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Founded by Phoenician settlers around 814 BCE, Carthage became a dominant maritime power on the North African coast. Situated near modern-day Tunis, Tunisia, it established extensive trade networks across the Mediterranean, competing fiercely with Rome. The military prowess of Carthage, particularly during the Punic Wars, forged a reputation for strategic brilliance, exemplified by Hannibal's audacious crossing of the Alps. Despite its eventual destruction in 146 BCE, the legacy of Carthage persists, influencing maritime technology and trade in ancient times.