In the early decades of the third century BC Carthage had gone into decline. Riven by internal as well as external conflicts, Carthage saw its territories in Iberia fall to native tribes while Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia fell to Rome. Meanwhile many of the city's African territories went into rebellion, leaving only Carthage itself and the cities closest to it under Punic control.
This would change by the end of the century, however. The Anti-Barcid party came to dominate Carthaginian politics, as many blamed the recent losses on the overstretching of the city's resources. It was decided to concentrate on Africa, and slowly the borders there reached and even surpassed their previous state. Carthage's coffers flowed with money again and even had the strength to not only repel invading Ptolemaic armies but to intervene in affairs in Asia, keeping the balance between their Egyptian enemies and the Seleucids.
Eventually the losses of the beginning of the century were forgotten and the Baricds again came to power, advocating the reconquest of Spain, which succeeded after a long guerilla war against the Lusotannan and other tribes there. Afterwards enriched by the conquest of all of Iberia, the Carthaginian elite would push further wars, taking the fight to the Romans who had stolen Sicily. Encountering surprisingly little resistance as the bulk of the Roman army somehow deteriorated to the level of levies called "Vigiles", despite great reserves of manpower and riches, the Carthaginians took all of Italy, then turned their sights on the Greeks, who had sunk Punic ships during the war.
Ever since the Carthaginian has continued to grow, sometimes slowly, sometimes in spurts. After the Greek Empire's territory was captured and their leaders banished to the northern shore of the Black sea, only the Seleucids were powerful enough to threaten Carthage. War between the two superpowers raged for decades, but the Seleucids lost large chunks of their territory to not only Carthage but to Baktria and Hayasdan as well. Technically a state of war still exists between teh two nations, but the Seleucids, while still possessing a sizable Empire, are little more than a shadow of their former selves.
Lately Carthage has expanded in a new direction, taking all of Gaul from the Arverni and the remnants of the Romans. Some grumbling has occured, as these lands are poorer than any thus far conquered, and hard to keep order in. However, the Carthaginian leaders have continued to push for more expansion, with the first expeditions establishing a foothold on the Isle of Tin itself. Only time will tell if the Carthaginian Empire is overstretching itself.
Re: 1.x AI Faction Progression Thread
Originally Posted by Zim
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from Hannibal Khan the Great, Brennus, Tellos Athenaios, and Winsington III.
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