Carthage is the most mysterious and little-studied state of the Ancient World. French historians J.S. Picard and K. Picard, on the pages of their book, recreate the seven-century history of the legendary city-state founded by the Phoenicians on African soil, relying on Greek and Roman sources, as well as on scientific data obtained by them in archaeological expeditions. The authors describe the culture, religion, political system, trade relations and relationships of Carthage with other countries, tell how over the centuries a small Phoenician colony grew rich and expanded, capturing more and more new territories, until it turned into a formidable rival of Rome. In the final chapters, historians cover the military campaigns of Hannibal, one of the greatest generals of antiquity, and conclude their book with a description of the defeat and death of Carthage.