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Jason Jeong · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 9

Unjust Decision: Destruction of Carthage
The destruction of Carthage was a mean action done by the Romans to innocent Carthaginians. After the treaty of 201 B.C. Carthage was “not to make war at all on any nation outside Africa, nor on any nation in Africa without consulting Rome.” (#67, pg. 182) Romans, by forcing the Carthaginians to sign the treaty, took diplomatic rights and ability from the Carthaginians to defend themselves. When King Masinissa of Numidia, Rome’s dearest ally in Africa, launched raid on Carthaginian soil fifty years after the treaty, Carthage could not defend itself. Carthage finally paid off its debt of 10,000 talents to Rome in 151 B.C, and considered the treaty to be expired, thus armed again to attack Numidians. When Cato went back to Rome and Rome declared war on Carthage, Carthage desperately tried to make amends by executing their own generals who had fought against Numidia, handing over hostages, armor, and artillery, which shows that Carthage had absolutely no will to fight against Rome anymore. However, Romans mercilessly demolished the city of Carthage and killed/sold its people. Such shameful history cannot be justified.

allies · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 5

It was an unjust decision for rome to destroy carthage. But one of the reasons they did do it was because they were scared that because carthage had recovered so well in the 50 or so years since the last war, that maybe they were not as powerful as they had thought and other cities they had absorbed would see that. So they destroy carthage to sort of prove they still are stronger and have more power than any other nation. One thing said in discussion today was "Actions speak louder than words" and that is what the romans were doing. Showing other cities that even though they may recover they are never stronger than rome.

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