Carthage existed for more than 500 years before the Romans took over in 146 BC, but because of the city’s brutal destruction, very little remains of the original Punic capital.

The ancient city was destroyed in the nearly-three year siege of Carthage by the Roman Republic during the Third Punic War in 146 BC. It was re-developed a century later as Roman Carthage, which became the major city of the Roman Empire in the province of Africa.

Known primarily as the Punic Wars competitor of ancient Rome, Carthage was a trading city in North Africa that existed for over 500 years. From its foundation by the semi-legendary Queen Dido in 814 B.C the Kingdom of Carthage became the dominant power in the western Mediterranean.

By the end of the 7th century BC, Carthage was becoming one of the leading commercial centres of the West Mediterranean region. After a long conflict with the emerging Roman Republic, known as the Punic Wars (264–146 BC), Rome finally destroyed Carthage in 146 BC.

Following centuries of conflict with the Sicilian Greeks, its growing competition with Rome culminated in the Punic Wars (264 – 146 BC E), which saw some of the largest and most sophisticated battles in antiquity. Carthage narrowly avoided destruction after the Second Punic War, but was destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC after the Third Punic War.