While there was a village on this site far back in time,
the Iberians left little written material, and thus
little is known of Mastia before the coming of the Phoenicians.
The town was then later wiped out by the Vandals and
archaeology has given us few Punic objects from here.
There remains little evidence of the town's layout or
buildings, but its topography is well described by Polybius.
The city of about 30,000 in Roman times was surrounded
by a wall; low on the sea's edge, tall and strong across
the land approach. New Carthage, though a much later
settlement, was founded for political and military purposes
and not as a genuine colony of the earlier type. This
new site had easy access to Carthage as well as central
location form which to administer the western empire.
Carthage was a trading empire, and the coast was all
that concerned her. The natives worked the land, while
the Phoenicians bought cheap and sold dear.
Cartagena was founded in 228 BC by Hasdrubal as a base
from which to conquer Spain. Carthage in North Africa
had lost the First Punic war. The Romans stripped her
of all military equipment, and forced the Phoenician
people to pay a large indemnity. Hasdrubal had vowed
revenge, and needed funds to rebuilt an army to challenge
Rome. He also needed a certain amount of secrecy, as
the building of an army would certainly put Rome on
her guard.
All was not work however. With the many natives subjected
to Carthaginian control, along with slaves and criminals
from Africa, he had the manpower to build himself a
palace and live in luxury. To the native Iberians, the
ruler of a city was considered a king and the local
god; thus Hasdrubal was 'divine'. Hasdrubal played this
feeling for what is was worth, but at the same time
had to be careful that the rulers of Old Carthage did
not think he was setting up his own kingdom. The detractors
of the Barcid clan spread rumours that at times threatened
to topple Hasdrubal. Only the steady flow of silver
kept him in control of the Spanish section of the Carthaginian
empire.
Large numbers of men were forced to work for the Carthaginians,
often under brutal conditions. Forty thousand natives
worked in the silver mines near Cartagena and a single
shaft, that of Baebelo, supplied Hannibal with more
than three hundred pounds a day. Hannibal, after paying
the indemnity to Rome, prepared for war. A factory making
arms was set up, and , among other things, large numbers
of swords were produced. With the huge silver output,
mercenaries from all over were recruited.
Massilla, the Greek colony far to the north, kept Rome
alerted to events. Rome sent emissaries to Carthage
to try to stop Hannibal's expansion into the Spanish
interior, and limit war preparations. At the same time,
Hannibal invaded and captured Saguntum, and sent the
booty to Carthage. The great wealth caused the elders
of Carthage to declare war on Rome, and the emissaries
were sent home. In 218 BC Hannibal began his march to
Italy. The Second Punic war had begun.
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