<P> Yet the Roman military hero of the Second Punic War, Scipio Africanus (236 - 183, Consul 205, 194) favoured a generous policy toward Hannibal . Later Scipio's son - in - law Scipio Nasica (183 - 132; Consul 162, 155) supported the cause of Carthage . Indeed, the pro-Hellenic Scipio circle at Rome, which included Scipio Aemilianus (185 - 129) and Polybius (203 - 120) the Greek historian, welcomed and embraced the Berber Publius Terentius Afer (195 - 159). Terence was born in Carthage yet in Rome he had mastered the Latin language well and became a celebrated Roman playwright . Also the Roman comedy entitled Poenulus ("The Carthaginian") of circa 190 by the popular dramatist Plautus (c. 250 - 184) had featured an extended family from Carthage who in Greece triumphed over the nefarious schemes of a leno, a Roman slaver . </P> <P> There were likewise citizens of Carthage, who increasingly accepted the cultural influence of the Hellenic world . For example, Hasdrubal a son of Carthage (also known as Cleitomachus) became a student of Greek philosophy and travelled to join the Platonic Academy at Athens . Several decades later Hasdrubal himself became its leader, the scholarch (129 - 110). Hasdrubal may be said to have followed in the footsteps of a Phoenician trader from Cyprus, Zeno of Citium (335 - 265), who earlier in Athens had founded another, the Stoic, school of philosophy . Despite the above Roman peace faction and such multiple, cultural and artistic interactions between Rome and Carthage within the context of the Mediterranean world, again war came . </P> <P> The Third Punic War (149 - 146) began following armed conflict between Carthage and the Numidian king Masinissa (r. 204 - 148), who for decades had been attacking and provoking the city . Carthage eventually responded, yet by prosecuting this defensive war the city had broken its treaty with Rome . Hence when challenged by Rome Carthage surrendered to Rome's superior strength . The war faction in control at Rome, however, was determined to undo Carthage; cleverly hiding its true aims while talks proceeded (wherein Carthage gave up significant military resources), Rome eventually presented Carthage with an ultimatum: either evacuate the city which would then be destroyed; or war . Roman armies landed in Africa and began to lay siege to the magnificent city of Carthage, which rejected further negotiations . The end came: Carthage was destroyed; its surviving citizens enslaved . </P> <P> In the aftermath, the region (much of modern Tunisia) was annexed by the Roman Republic as the new Province of Africa . The city of Carthage was eventually rebuilt by the Romans under Julius Caesar, beginning in 46 BCE . It later became capital of Africa Province and a leading city of the Empire . The entire province, Berber and Punic with a large Latin and multinational influx, then experienced a centuries - long renaissance . Long after the fall of Rome, the re-built city of Carthage would be again undone . </P>

Who were the carthaginians and where did they rule