Ancient history

Third Punic War

The third Punic War was the last war fought between Rome and Carthage between 149 and 146 BC. In this last war Rome was victorious. Carthage was completely destroyed by the Romans.

The reason

Masinisa, king of Numidia turned agent of Rome, harassed the Carthaginians, dragging Carthage into a defensive war in 150 BC. This was the excuse that made Rome intervene, which accused her rival of having violated the clauses of the Treaty between the two of 201 BC. that prohibited him from any military action.

The facts

Before the violent Roman advance in Punic territory, the neighboring city of Utica surrendered and Carthage asked for peace conditions.
The first of all was that he had to hand over his arms and Carthage handed them over. But when it refused to be dismantled and move the capital to the interior, after a siege of several years.

Destruction of Carthage

Scipio Emiliano took Carthage after a terrible battle. The brave city was razed to the ground, its territory made ager publicus of Rome, becoming the Carthaginian territory the Roman Province of Africa .
Carthage city was cursed and its reconstruction was prohibited under penalty of death for "sacrilege". The inhabitants who survived or were unable to escape earlier (many had moved to southern Hispania with their fortunes and to neighboring Tripolitania and Cuenaica) were sold into slavery and fifty of them accompanied Scipio to Rome, parading in his Triumph. /p>