Why did Rome destroy Carthage even after it had ceased to be a serious military threat? How did an unarmed city withstand the Roman army for three years? And what really happened during the final, brutal siege that erased ancient Carthage from history?
This podcast tells the complete story of the Third Punic War and the destruction of Carthage. After its defeat in the Second Punic War, Carthage surrendered its fleet, lost most of its territory, paid tribute to Rome, and accepted severe restrictions on its ability to wage war. Yet the city recovered economically, alarming Roman politicians such as Cato the Elder, who repeatedly declared: “Carthage must be destroyed.”
When the Numidian king Masinissa invaded Carthaginian territory, Carthage finally fought back without Roman permission. Rome used this violation of the peace treaty as a pretext for war. The Carthaginians surrendered their weapons and handed over hundreds of noble children as hostages, only to learn Rome’s final demand: the population had to abandon the coast so that Carthage itself could be destroyed.
Faced with the loss of their city, the Carthaginians chose resistance. Slaves were freed, temples and buildings were dismantled for materials, statues were melted down for weapons, and women cut off their hair to make ropes for siege engines. Against all expectations, the defenders repelled the first Roman assaults and nearly destroyed the Roman fleet with fire ships.
The siege dragged on until Scipio Aemilianus took command. He restored discipline in the Roman army, cut Carthage off from supplies, blockaded its harbors, and defeated the remaining Carthaginian forces outside the city. Famine and disease devastated the population, but Carthage still refused to surrender.In 146 BC, the Romans launched their final assault. For six days and six nights, Roman soldiers fought through the streets, houses, rooftops, and multi-story buildings of Carthage. Tens of thousands were killed or enslaved.
The city was looted, burned for seventeen days, and demolished.This is the story of Cato the Elder, Masinissa, Hasdrubal, Scipio Aemilianus, the Third Punic War, and the final fall of one of the ancient Mediterranean’s greatest civilizations.
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This Episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/uxuHaUdrpgc
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🎤 Voiceover by: Nick Banas
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