History of Roman Africa

Roman Africa still fascinates historians and it is not uncommon to recall the glorious past of the Carthaginian Empire and the famous Hanibal Barca during the Punic Wars. For a short time the elephants of Hannibal's army almost precipitated the end of a newly formed empire. The year 146 BC marked a turning point in the history of this Africa with the defeat of the Carthaginian army and the famous, almost political slogan of a frustrated Cato the Elder declaring"delenda carthago est" (Carthage must be destroyed!). Fortunately, this part of ancient Africa, marked by the Roman presence, was to experience a more important influence by becoming the second granary of Rome, used especially to finance an "annunciation" policy revolving around bread and games. The emperors were to set up colonies with multiple statuses. Our work aims to make a literary and epigraphic inventory of the presence and actions of the Roman emperors in this Africa now in their hands.