A trirème of 5th and 4th front centuries J. - C.
The empire rests on the control of the seas. The Carthaginians have a reputation of excellent navigators. Heirs in this field to the Phoenicians, which, as of XIIe front century J. - C., reached Spain while skirting either the coasts of Sicily, Sardinia and the Balearic Islands, or those to North Africa, the Carthaginians practice the coastal traffic, between distant stopovers from 25 to 30 marine miles; they also excel in navigation with the long course. The fleet
The State, interested by the maritime exchanges, sets up an important merchant fleet and military. The ships of “Gallic” transport make from 20 to 30 m length on 6 to 7 m broad; conceived to accommodate about twenty men of crew, they have a strong tonnage and important drawing from water; equipped with a rectangular sail, a rudder with starboard and another with port side, they can be operations by only one cox. The launches which are used for the inshore navigation and small fishing boats, with more modest dimensions, keep the same form and the same ratio of 1 out of 4 between the width and the length.
The military buildings, of more lengthened and narrower form, have two masts: that of the center supports the mainsail, that of the prow a small sail which makes it possible to control even in head winds.
There exist several types of ships: the quadrirème, appeared to the IV E century, and the quinquérème, later, measure between 30 and 40 m length on 6 m broad. More modest, the pentécontore, long, 25 m is operated by 50 oarsmen, but it is the trière who is used between VIIe and IVe century. Long, it 36 m accommodates 180 men of crew and can reach an high speed with 5 nodes.
To shelter the merchant fleet and military, Carthage arranges a double artificial harbor, cut in the rock inside the grounds, safe from winds and of possible surprise attacks. The outer harbor, for the rectangular basin, is intended for the trading vessels, and the inner harbor, circular, can receive, with its administrative buildings, its holds, its stores, nearly 220 military ships.
Administration
The administration is decentralized - the territories have different statutes - and entirely subordinated in search of economic profits. Aristote reproaches the magistrates for worrying more theirs enrichment that constitution of a homogeneous empire where all the people feel integrated.
Carthage and the surrounding cities are divided into circondari, districts or districts placed each one under the authority of a prefect.
The other cities enjoy a great autonomy, but must discharge a tribute, lodge military garrisons and rely on Carthage with regard to the diplomacy.
Exchanges
The designs of the economy are very simple. The State takes taxation of the imports and exports, but does not practice a specific marketing policy.
The currency, whose standard is Phoenician, appeared tardily, to the IV E century. The Old ones recognize the skill and the direction of the business of the Carthaginian traders, even if, sometimes, their Greek competitors or Romans consider them rather cheating.
In the first phase of its development, Carthage imports foodstuffs of its colonies. But in fact the noble metals of the Iberian peninsula, particularly the money constitute the essence of its imports. They are intended for the craft industry and the manufacture of the currencies.
Of Berbérie, the Carthaginian city obtains agricultural produce and animals - ostriches, elephants of Numidie, monkeys, parrots, deer - which it resells in the Mediterranean, in particular for the plays of amphitheater. Many mosaics, like those of Hippone to the IV E century, represent scenes of capture of deer. It exports products of craft industry - carpet, perfumes, fabrics of colors, spoons, pipes out of terra cotta, etc - and of shoddy goods, of which small masks in molten glass.