Carthage was an ancient city that played an important role in the Mediterranean region. It was founded in present-day Tunisia and gained independence from Phoenicia in 650 BC. Carthage became one of the leading commercial centers of the West Mediterranean region by the end of the 7th century BC, and its dominion spread across Northwest Africa and Iberia. It also controlled the major islands of the western Mediterranean.

Carthage was engaged in a series of wars with Rome, known as the Punic Wars, from the middle of the 3rd century to the middle of the 2nd century BC. These wars ended in the complete defeat of Carthage by Rome and the expansion of Roman control in the Mediterranean world. The city was destroyed in the nearly-three year siege of Carthage by the Roman Republic during the Third Punic War in 146 BC. The end of the series of wars resulted in the end of Carthaginian power and the complete destruction of the city by Scipio Aemilianus.

A century later, the city was re-developed as Roman Carthage, which became the major city of the Roman Empire in the province of Africa. Late antique and medieval Carthage continued to play an important cultural and economic role in the Byzantine period. The city was sacked and destroyed by Umayyad forces after the Battle of Carthage in 698 to prevent it from being reconquered by the Byzantine Empire. It remained occupied during the Muslim period and was used as a fort by the Muslims until the Hafsid period when it was taken by the Crusaders with its inhabitants massacred during the Eighth Crusade.

In summary, Carthage was destroyed by the Roman Republic during the Third Punic War in 146 BC, and it was re-developed as Roman Carthage a century later. The city continued to play an important role in the Byzantine period but was eventually destroyed by Umayyad forces after the Battle of Carthage in 698.