Carthage is an ancient city located on the north coast of Africa, in present-day Tunisia, and is now a residential suburb of the city of Tunis. Founded by the Phoenicians around the 9th century BC, its Phoenician name means "new town". The city was strategically built on a promontory on the Tunisian coast, allowing it to control ships traversing the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and North Africa. Carthage rose to prominence as a major Mediterranean power, largely due to its advantageous location for trade and its powerful navy. It became a significant trading hub, known for its productive agriculture, manufacturing, and extensive trade networks that reached across the ancient world.
Carthage is most notably remembered for the Punic Wars, a series of conflicts fought against Rome from the 3rd to 2nd centuries BC. The city was eventually destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC. However, Julius Caesar rebuilt Carthage between 49 to 44 BC, and it became a major city in the Roman Empire. Today, the ruins of Carthage are a major tourist attraction and an archeological site. Key attractions include the Baths of Antoninus, the largest Roman bath outside of Rome, Byrsa Hill, the Carthage Museum, the Roman Theatre, the Punic Ports, and the Salammbo Tophet. The archeological site of Carthage was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1979.