Cartesianism
system of philosophy taught by Descartes. chédõn), the most famous city of Africa CARTHAGE (L. Carthago, Gr. Karin antiquity, capital of a rich and powerin antiquity, capital of a rich and powerful commercial republic, situated in the territory now belonging to Tunis. Car- thage was the latest of the Phoenician colonies in this district, and is supposed to have been founded by settlers from Tyre and from the neighboring Utica about the middle of the 9th century before Christ. The story of Dido and the foundation of Carthage is mere legend or invention. The history of Carthage falls naturally into three epochs. The first, from the foundation to 410 B. C., comprises the rise and culmination of Carthaginian power; the second, from 410 to 265 B. C., is the period of the wars with the Sicilian Greeks; the third, from 265 to 146 в. c., the period of the wars with Rome, ending with the fall of Carthage.
The rise of Carthage may be attributed to the superiority of her site for commercial purposes, and the enterprise of her inhabitants. Her relations with mads, were those of a superior with inferior races. Some of them were directly subject to Carthage, others contributed formed the main body of infantry as army. Besides these there were native Carthaginian colonies, small centers and supports for her great commercial system, sprinkled along the whole northern In extending her commerce Carthage was naturally led to the conquest of the various islands which from their position might serve as entrepôts for traffic with the Carthaginians, and its capital, Caralis, now Cagliari, was founded by them. Soon after they occupied Corsica, the the Carthaginians, and its capital, Carathe Mediterranean. When the Persians, Soon after they occupied Corsica, the thaginians, who had already several settlements in the W. of Sicily, co-operated by organizing a great expedition 300,000 men against the Greek cities in Sicily. But the defeat of the Carthaginby organizing a great expedition of 300,000 men against the Greek cities in further progress (480 в. c.). The war with the Greeks in Sicily was not renewed till 410. Hannibal the son of CARTHAGE Gisco, invaded Sicily, reduced first Searmy of Himilco (396). The struggle Syracuse itself was only saved a little later by a pestilence which enfeebled the later success, its most remarkable events being the military successes of the Corinthian ians continued at intervals with varying success, its most remarkable events being Timoleon (34 (345-340) at Syracuse, and the the military successes of the Corinthian invasion of the Carthaginian territory in Greeks called in Pyrrhus, King of Epi- After the death of Agathocles the Greeks called in Pyrrhus, King of Epi- Carthaginians seemed, after the denumerous defeats (277-275 B. c.), the Carthaginians seemed, after the de- The intervention of the Romans was now of all Sicily at length within their power.
The intervention of the Romans was now invoked, and with their invasion, 264 history begins. The first Punic war (L. Punicus, Phoenician), in which Rome and Carthage contended for the dominion of history begins. The first Punic war (L.
Carthage contended for the dominion of to 241 B. C., and ended, through the ex- Sicily, was prolonged for 23 years, 264 in her expulsion from the island. The Spain for Carthage, which was almost bal. The second Punic war, arising out of incidents connected with the Carthaginian conquests in Spain, and conducted on the side of the Carthaginians by the genius of Hannibal, and distinguished by his great march on Rome and the victories of Lake Trasimene, Trebia, and Cannæ, lasted 17 years, 218 to 201 в. c., and after just missing the overthrow of Rome, ended in the complete humiliation of Carthage. The policy of Rome in encouraging the African enemies of Carthage occasioned the third Punic war, in which Rome was the aggressor. This war, begun 150 в. c., ended 146 B. C., in the total destruction of Carthage.
The constitution of Carthage, like her history, remains in many points obscure. The constitution of Carthage, like her The name of king occurs in the Greek accounts of it, but the monarchial constitution, as commonly understood, never appears to have existed in Carthage.
The officers called kings by the Greeks were two in number, the heads of an wise called Suffetes, the original name being considered identical with the Hebrew Shofetim, judges. These officers were chosen from the principal families, and were elected annually. There was a senate of 300, and a smaller body of another smaller council of 10. In its 30 chosen from the senate, sometimes later ages the state was divided by CARTHAGE bitter factions, and liable to violent popular tumults. After the destruction of Carthage her territory became the Roman province of Africa. Twenty-four years after her fall an unsuccessful attempt was made to rebuild Carthage by Caius Gracchus. This was finally accomplished by Augustus, and Roman Carthage became one of the most important cities of the empire. It was taken and destroyed by the Arabs in 638.
The religion of the Carthaginians was that of their Phoenician ancestors. They worshiped Moloch or Baal, to whom they offered human sacrifices; Melkart, the patron deity of Tyro; Astarte, the Phoenician Venus, and other deities, which were mostly propitiated by cruel or lascivious rites.