Carthage Vs. Rome By Polybius: Rise Of The Roman Empire
1337 Words6 Pages
Spencer Ballantyne
Classics 377: Carthage Vs. Rome
Short Paper Option #2
In Polybius’ “Rise of the Roman Empire,” he details a treaty between Carthage and Rome in 509 B.C., which, if authentic, would alter our perception of early Rome and the Carthaginian Empire. Through analysis of Polybius’s account and other ancient historians and commentators, it is probable that the treaty of 509 B.C. is indeed legitimate and can be accepted as reliable historical evidence.
In the years leading up to 509 B.C., Carthage had firmly established itself as a monopolizing force in Mediterranean Sea commerce, trade, and naval superiority. Of Phoenician decent, Carthage was established around 1215 B.C and by the 7th century was becoming one of the leading commercial…show more content… These treaties, however, were written in an archaic form of Latin, so Polybius and other Roman scholars had difficulty deciphering these tablets and records. Thereby, their interpretation should be handled with this consideration. According to Polybius, this Roman and Carthage treaty was signed twenty-eight years before the invasion of Greece by Xerxes in the same year that Rome overthrew the monarchy. In Polybius’s quotation of the treaty, Carthage firmly outlines specific zones into which Rome cannot enter, “The Romans and their allies are not to sail beyond the Fair Promontory, unless forced to do so by storm or by enemies.” (PG#) If the Romans contravened this, Carthage sets even more protocol in its case – “it is forbidden for him to buy or take away anything but what is necessary for repairs to his ship or for sacrifice, and he must depart within five days.” (PG#) Carthage also established explicit rules of trade for Rome, “those coming to trade may not undertake any business unless in the presence of a herald or a clerk, and everything that is sold in front of these two will be secured to the seller by the state if the transaction takes place in Libya or Sardinia.” (PG#) In addition, Carthage establishes the early rules…show more content… Rome in 509, a fledgling state, was looking for recognition and independent access to grain markets controlled by Carthage. Following the overthrow of Tarquin the Proud, Rome needed to secure itself and its supplies, which, at the time, were controlled by Etruscan and Greek merchants who in turn controlled the port that supplied Rome. For the Romans, the treaty would have contained a wealth of benefits, and as such, it could equally have been Rome who approached Carthage over concluding the pact. As a new self-governing city-state, Rome in 509 would have been looking for diplomatic recognition from nearby states, and a treaty with a large foreign power demonstrated the independence of the new Republic, and that it was now the master of all territory once administered by the Tarquins, and the leading city of Latium. In addition, Rome sought recognition, both internally and externally, that it would remain the pre-eminent city in the region, and a treaty with the western Mediterranean’s largest power would have allowed it to flex its economic, military, and political muscle both inside and outside central