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Middle East Kingdoms
Ancient North Africa
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Utica
The earliest of the
Phoenician
colonies in North
Africa, Utica was
founded on the modern
Tunisian coast by
explorers and colonists from
Tyre as a stop-off point on the route into the Mediterranean.
Traditionally, it was founded in 1101 BC as the earliest of their North
African settlements, very shortly after
Gadir was
founded in
Spain. It
enjoyed an advantageous position thanks to being situated on the Lake of
Tunis at the outlet of the River Majardah (or Medjerda, the only river in
Tunisia which flows throughout the year). Its original name may have been
different, as 'Utica' comes from the Phoenician word for 'old town' in
contrast to the later colony of
Carthage, which was the
'new town'. 'Old town' areas usually lie at the heart of historic cities,
but this one seems to have lost the name of the town itself, with only
'old town' surviving.
No archaeological remains have so far been dated to this period, but that
may be due to posts such as Utica being very seasonal in nature at first,
and therefore temporary. Only some centuries later did they grow into full
cities. Utica's archaeological remains date back to the eighth century
BC, the point at which it probably became a permanent town and port. It was
built across several low hills, around thirty kilometres from modern Tunis,
and today its ruins still provide a very clear picture if its spread and
development. Once an important port town, the silting up which occurred
during the
Roman
period due to massive deforestation and poor agricultural practices meant
that the town entirely lost its access to the Majardah, and today it lies
far inland.
(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from
Encyclopaedia of the Roman Empire, Matthew Bunson (1994), from The
World of the Phoenicians, Sabatino Moscati (New York, 1968), and from
External Link:
The Princeton Encyclopaedia of Classical Sites, Richard Stillwell and
others (Perseus Digital Library).) |
1101 BC |
This
is the traditional date at which the North African colony of Utica is
founded by traders and explorers from
Tyre.
At this point in time, although remnants of the
Phoenician
port cities have often survived to the present day, documentary evidence of
their existence has not survived. |
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c.950 BC |
It
is during Hiram's reign that
Tyre
grows to become the most important
Phoenician
city. Hiram also puts down a rebellion in Utica, showing that Tyre remains
the principal authority for the colony (it also shows that Utica already
feels strong enough to be able to rebel against its king). In fact, the method
of organisation of any authority within Utica remains unknown, although it is
possible that it mirrors the set-up adopted in
Carthage.
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Around thirteen hundred years after being destroyed by the
invading Islamic empire, Utica's ruins today still show clear
evidence of streets and buildings - almost a Pompeii without
the volcanic ash
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8th century BC |
The
first archaeological evidence for Utica's existence can be dated to this
century, showing that it becomes a permanent settlement by a date of 700 BC
at the very latest. The push for this change could be
Assyrian
pressure in the Levant, while the empire undergoes one of its spells of
aggressive conquest. All of the
Phoenician
states become Assyrian vassals in 738 BC. |
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539 BC |
After
about a century of
Assyrian
dominance, followed by half a century of
Babylonia dominance, all of
Phoenicia
is now submerged within the
Persian empire. As a result, many Phoenicians emigrate to the colonies,
especially Carthage, which
quickly rises to become a major power. Although important in its own right
up to this point, the smaller town of Utica quickly becomes a dependency of
Carthage. |
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264 - 241 BC |
The
First Punic War erupts between
Rome
and Carthage. Following its
conclusion, there is a rebellion amongst mercenaries who have not been paid.
The leader of the Libyan
mercenaries, Spendius and Matho, lay siege to Utica and nearby Hippocritae.
Despite being rescued by generals Hanno and Hamilcar of Carthage, both cities
defy Carthaginian governance and have to be brought into line by force. |
215 - 205 BC |
The
Second Punic War is fought by
Rome
and Carthage, starting at
Saguntum (near modern Valencia) in Hispania. Using
Gadir as a
base, Hannibal Barca sets out to attack
Rome,
leading his armies over the Alps into
Italy.
He has to fight off resistance by
Gaulish
tribes such as the
Allobroges
along the way but is supported by other Gauls such as the
Insubres.
At first he wins great victories at Trasimeno and Cannae which all but
destroys Roman military strength, but he is denied the reinforcements to
pursue his victory by an opposing political faction back at home. The
majority of Rome's Italian allies remain loyal and Rome is able to rebuild
its strength. In 206 BC, Gadir is lost, and in 202 BC a force is landed in
North Africa thanks to which, Hannibal is defeated by Scipio Africanus at
the Battle of Zama, ending the war. |
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146 - 40 BC |
The
Third Punic War witnesses the fall of
Carthage. Utica defies the
bigger city to surrender to
Rome
and become an ally. It is made the capital of the North African region as a
result. However, grain cultivation in the local mountains causes large
amounts of silt to erode into the river, which in turn causes silt to built
up in the main harbour. Eventually the harbour is rendered virtually
useless, so Carthage is rebuilt (44 BC). |
34 - c.27 BC |
Around 34 BC, Utica is made a municipium and the capital of the
province of
Africa Proconsularis,
probably by Statilius Taurus. Probably due to Utica's silted harbour and
Carthage's revival as a major port, Emperor Augustus appoints Carthage as
the provincial capital. Utica remains one of the region's leading centres. |
46 BC |
Following the
Roman
Civil War and defeat at the Battle of Thapsus, the surviving Pompeians,
including Cato the Younger, flee to Utica. Pursued by Julius Caesar, Cato
ensures the escape of his fellow Pompeians before committing suicide. He is
given a burial near the coast with full stately honours by the people of
Utica.
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Roman mosaics still survive in Utica's ruins, revealing
a little of how the town was developed during its
almost-five-hundred-years of Roman control
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AD 439 - 534 |
The
Vandali (and their associates, the
Alans)
have already become a federate kingdom of
Rome
after crossing from Iberia to Africa, but they don't stop there.
Carthage
itself, the capital of the province of Africa Proconsularis, is conquered
along with Utica in 439, the Vandali simply walking into Carthage while the
populace is occupied with a day of games. Roman control has been thrown off
and a large swathe of the North African coast is now a barbarian possession. |
534 - 695 |
In
response to the usurpation of the
Vandali throne by Gelimer, General Belisarius is sent by the
Byzantine
emperor Justinian to North Africa with an army. Gelimer has already sent the
bulk of his forces to
Sardinia
to recapture the island, so the invasion by Belisarius begins with an immediate
victory at the Battle of Ad Decimum. In one campaigning season the Vandali are
conquered, and Sardinia becomes an Eastern Roman possession. |
695 - 698 |
In
695, the Wali of Ifriqiyya
and the Maghreb, Hasan ibn al-Nu'man, captures
Carthage and advances
into the Atlas Mountains. Taking advantage of his absence, a
Byzantine
fleet arrives to retake Carthage in 697, but within a year Hasan returns and
defeats Emperor Tiberius III at the Battle of Carthage. Africa is abandoned
to the
Islamic
empire. Both Carthage and Utica are destroyed. Only ruins survive into the
twenty-first century. |
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