The people of Carthage belong to an ancient civilization
of merchants. The wealth and safety of their homeland had
convinced them that their civilization would last for eternity.
Although skilled in the art of war, they emerge victorious
because of the overwhelming power of their armies and not
because of the bravery of their men. In fact, their warriors
were mercenaries from nearby tribes in North Africa, Spain
and even Macedonia.
The Carthaginian customs were barbarous to the extreme. When
a battle was won they would sacrifice their most handsome prisoners
to the gods; when a battle had been lost the children of their
most noble families were cast into the furnace.
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