636 Is the last date we possess of an Assyrian governor in Phoenicia. 608 Battle of Megiddo, and submission of Syria to Neku II. Phoenicia once more under Egyptian dominion. 605 Battle of Carchemish. Defeat of Neku by Nebuchadrezzar. Phoenicia comes under the rule of Babylonia. Phoenicia now remains docile to Nebuchadrezzar until stirred up by Uah-ab-Ra, Pharaoh of Egypt, who enters into an alliance against Babylonia with Tyre and Sidon, after proceeding against them by land and sea. 587 Nebuchadrezzar besieges Tyre, of which Ithobaal II is king. 574 Fall of Tyre. Ithobaal removed to Babylon and Baal II put in his place. 564 Death of Baal II. The government of Tyre is reorganised, and a suffet is placed over the city. 563 A three months' interregnum in which the high priest Abba is at the head of affairs, then a rule of two suffets one for the island and one for Palætyrus. A state of anarchy arises. 557 Balatorus, an elected king, rules for one year. 556 Maharbaal (or Merbaal), a member of the exiled royal family is sent from Babylon to be king. 552 Hiram III succeeds his brother Maharbaal. 538 Capture of Babylon by Cyrus of Persia. Phoenicia becomes a Persian province. Tyre sinks into insignificance and Sidon becomes the leading city. Aahmes II of Egypt occupies Cyprus. THIRD PERIOD (538-332 B.C.) 532 Death of Hiram III. Phoenicia, Palestine, and Syria become the fifth Persian satrapy. 530 Carthage becomes an independent power. 525 The Phoenicians furnish a fleet for Cambyses' war in Egypt. 496 Phoenician fleet shares in the Persian victory off Lade. 480 Tetranestus, king of Sidon, Mapen of Tyre and Merbaal of Aradus accompany Xerxes to Greece. Phoenician fleet takes part in the expedi466 tion. Battle of Salamis. Phoenician and Persian fleet defeated by the Greeks at Eurymedon. 455 Phoenician fleet is sent to aid Persians to reconquer Egypt for Artaxerxes I. 449 Defeat of the Phoenician fleet by the Athenians off Cyprus. 405 Battle of Ægospotami. Phoenician fleet aids Athens to defeat the Spartans. 400 Straton I comes to the throne of Sidon. He is the son of Tabnit (Tennes I), and grandson of Eshmunazer I, a descendant of Tetranestus, and succeeds his elder brother Eshmunazer II, who has died a minor. 394 Phoenician fleet helps the Athenians to defeat the Spartans at Cnidus. Friendly relations between Sidon and Athens. 390 Evagoras of Salamis in Cyprus storms Tyre, which is now in an enfeebled condition. 361 Straton I of Sidon joins Tachus of Egypt against the Persians and is killed by his wife to prevent falling into the hands of the enemy. Tabnit (Tennes) II succeeds him. 352 Tennes leads a revolt of Phoenicia against Persia, Cyprus joins him. 345 Tennes betrays Sidon to Artaxerxes III, who afterwards puts the king of Sidon to death. Cyprus subdued. Tyre resumes the leading position in Phoenicia. 333 Battle of Issus. Aradus and Byblus and Sidon join Alexander the Great. Tyre besieged by Alexander. 332 Capture of Tyre by Alexander. Azemilcus, the king, is spared, but eight thousand Tyrians are slain, and thirty thousand sold as slaves. End of Tyre's political existence. The foundation of Alexandria also makes it lose much trade. The Phoenicians cease to be a great nation. FOURTH PERIOD (332 B.C.-636 A.D.) 331 Alexander forms Phoenicia, Syria, and Cilicia into one province, over which he places Menes. 323 Death of Alexander. Phoenicia occupied alternately by Ptolemy and by Antigonus and his son Demetrius. Ptolemy finally retains possession (287). 315 Siege of Tyre by Antigonus. 246-198 Struggle between the Seleucidæ and Ptolemies for Phoenicia. The Seleucidæ left in possession of Phoenicia after the surrender of Sidon (198). The trade of Media and the Red Sea is diverted to Alexandria in 125 Tyre and Sidon are practically independent after the Tyrians put Demetrius II to death. 86 Syria, worn out by the civil wars of the Seleucidæ puts itself under the dominion of Tigranes, king of Armenia. 67 Phoenicia and Syria return for a short time to the Seleucidæ after the victories of Lucullus. 63 Pompey reduces Syria to a Roman province. 44-42 Cassius divides Phoenicia into small principalities. Antony gives Phoenicia to Cleopatra, but reserves freedom of Tyre and Sidon. 20 Augustus deprives Tyre and Sidon of their liberties. He founds a Roman colony called Augustana, at Beirut (Berytus), which has a famous law school under the dominion of Rome. Tyre and Sidon have no political importance, but retain their commercial and manufacturing interests. They continue to have no historical importance until A.D. 193-194 Tyre and Laodicea take part in the struggle of Septimius Severus and Pescennius Niger for the emperorship. Niger sends troops to Tyre, which burn and pillage the city. 201 Severus recruits the population of Tyre and gives it a colonial title. Tyre and Berytus enjoy the monopoly of producing that dye known as the imperial purple. As part of the second Syrian province of Rome, their prosperity increases until 616 the Persian king, Chosroes II, subjugates Syria (including Phoenicia) and rules it until 622 when the Byzantine emperor regains control. 636 Battle of the Hieromax. As a result the Emperor Heraclius aban dons Syria to the Mohammedans. FIFTH PERIOD (633-1516 a.d.) Under the rule of the caliphs Phoenician civilisation suffers no decay. 1100-1110 Baldwin and the Crusaders capture all the Phoenician cities except Tyre. 1111 Siege of Tyre begun by Baldwin. He abandons it during the winter. 1124 Siege and capture of Tyre by the Crusaders. 1187 Saladin overthrows the kingdom of Jerusalem. Tyre begins a heroic defence against him. 1189 Relief of Tyre by Guy de Lusignan. Capture of Acre (Akko) by Philip Augustus and Richard Coeur-de-Lion. 1192 Treaty of peace with the Mohammedans. extends from Joppa to Tyre. The Christian territory Acre becomes the chief commercial centre of the Phoenician coast and 1291 is taken by the sultan of Egypt, to whom other Syrian towns also submit. 1516 Selim I conquers the whole of Syria, which since then has been included in the Ottoman empire. B.C. CARTHAGINIAN HISTORY IN OUTLINE FIRST PERIOD (813-410 B.C.) 814-813 Carthage, according to tradition, is founded by Elissa, sister of King Pygmalion of Tyre, who fled from her brother. The Phoenicians find the land occupied by Libyans whom they dispossess. They also manage to get some kind of control over the nomads in the outlying regions of their new domain. The official heads of the government were the suffets, similar to the Roman consuls. There may have been only two in office at a time, serving for one year, but capable of re-election. 600-550 Malchus, mentioned by Justin, who calls him "king" of Carthage. Successful wars in Africa and Sicily undertaken to extend the city's commerce. Malchus defeated in Sardinia; he turns against Carthage. 550-500 Decline of Tyre after Persian conquest. Carthage becomes independent (530). Mago, father of Hasdrubal and Hamilcar succeeds Malchus. It is to the efforts of this family that Carthage owed her supremacy. Hasdrubal's sons are Hannibal, Hasdrubal, and Sappho ; Hamilcar's are Himilco, Hanno, and Gisco. Carthaginian supremacy established over Sardinia, Balearic Isles, parts of Sicily, Liguria, and Gaul; in the course of which conquests there occurred a sea-fight of the Etruscans and Carthaginians against the Phocæans of Aleria, in Corsica. Phocæans victorious, but their losses oblige them to abandon Corsica. 536 509 Commercial treaty between Carthage and Rome restricting Roman commerce in Punic waters. 500 Expedition of Hanno and Himilco to colonise west African coast, and to explore the Atlantic. Britain discovered. 480 Expedition against Agrigentum and Syracuse in conjunction with Persian invasion of Greece. Battle of Himera. Hamilcar defeated with great loss by Gelo of Syracuse. SECOND PERIOD (410-264 B.C.) 410 Renewal of attempts of Carthage to reduce Sicily. Hannibal, son of Gisco, storms Selinus. Agrigentum destroyed by Hannibal and Himilco. Death of Hannibal. Himilco attacks Gela. 405 Treaty between Carthage and Dionysius of Syracuse secures Carthaginian conquests in Sicily. 398 Dionysius attempts to expel Carthaginians from Sicily. In the ensuing war all Sicily falls before the Punic arms. Dionysius is besieged in Syracuse, but pestilence breaks out among the Carthaginians, and they are defeated. Himilco starves himself to death. 397 Libyans revolt against Carthage. The city has a narrow escape. 396-392 Mago leads an expedition against Syracuse, which is not successful. 380 Mago's second Sicilian expedition defeated at Cabala. The whole of Sicily is nearly lost, but Mago's victory at Corsica restores the Carthaginian power. The Halycus recognised as boundary to Carthaginian possessions in Sicily. 368 Dionysius again tries to expel the Carthaginians. Is unsuccessful and dies. Dionysius II makes peace with Carthage. 345 Timoleon of Corinth, having liberated Syracuse from her tyrants, makes war on Carthage. 340 Battle of the Crimissus. Carthaginians defeated with severe loss. Peace restores the boundary on the Halycus. Greek cities declared free. 333 Carthaginians send help to the Tyrians besieged by Alexander the Great. 310 Agathocles of Agrigentum besieges Carthage, but is recalled by revolt of Agrigentum. 306 Peace between Carthage and Agrigentum. It lasts until Agathocles dies (289). His death encourages the Carthaginians to extend their dominions, until 277 the Syracusans call on Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, for help against Carthage, and he aids them to drive the Carthaginians from the west of Sicily and besieges them in Lilybæum. Carthage and Rome united against him. 276 Pyrrhus quits Sicily. 265 Carthaginians go to the aid of Campanian mercenaries besieged in Messana (Messina) by Hiero of Syracuse. Another party in Messana appeals to Rome. THIRD PERIOD (264-146 B.C.) Hiero 264 First Punic war (for the possession of Sicily). Romans occupy Messana. Retreat of the Carthaginians and Syracusans. joins the Romans. Roman successes in Sicily. 260 Sea-fight off Mylæ. Carthaginians defeated by Romans. 256 Sea-fight off Ecnomus. Carthaginian fleet defeated. Romans invade Africa. 255 Carthaginians under Xanthippus defeat the Romans under Regulus. Loss of Roman fleet on homeward voyage. 254 Roman victory at Panormus. 253 Roman fleet destroyed in a storm. 249 Battle of Drepanum. Carthaginian victory. 248-243 Success of Carthaginians under Hamilcar Barca on Italian coast and in Sicily. 242 Battle off Egates islands. Romans under Catulus defeat Carthaginian fleet. 241 Hamilcar Barca makes peace, agreeing to evacuate Sicily and to pay indemnity. Sicily lost to the Carthaginians. 241-237 Civil war in Carthage. Mercenaries rise against the citizens. 238 Sardinia and Corsica lost by Carthage to Rome. 236-219 Carthaginian conquests in Spain under Hamilcar, Hasdrubal, and Hannibal. Attempt to convert Spain into a Carthaginian province. By an understanding with the Romans, the Ebro is recognised as the Carthaginian boundary. 219 Saguntum captured by Hannibal. 218 Second Punic war (for the possession of Italy). despatched to Africa. Roman army 218 Hasdrubal opposes the Scipios in Spain. Hannibal crosses the Alps and wins victories of the Ticinus and the Trebia. Hannibal crosses the Apennines. 217 Battle of Lake Trasimene. Hannibal defeats the Romans and ravages the country as far as Apulia. 216 Battle of Cannæ. Roman army annihilated. Hasdrubal ordered to join Hannibal in Italy. He is prevented by a defeat on the Ebro. 215 Philip of Macedon allies himself with Carthage. 214 Carthaginians land in Sicily. 212 Romans recover their position in Sicily. Carthaginian successes in Spain. 211 Philip of Macedon's attention occupied by a coalition against him in Greece. Romans besiege Capua. Hannibal fails to relieve Capua. Hannibal at the gates of Rome. Hannibal's retreat from Rome. Fall of Capua. 209 New Carthage in Spain taken by the Romans. Battle of Bæcula and defeat of Hasdrubal. Hasdrubal crosses the Pyrenees and Gaul, and appears in the north of Italy. 207 Battle of Metaurus. Hasdrubal defeated and slain. The last hope of the Carthaginians is gone. 206 Carthaginians finally expelled from Spain. 204 Scipio invades Africa. 203 Scipio defeats the Carthaginians. Hannibal recalled to Carthage. 202 Battle of Zama. Scipio defeats Hannibal. 201 Peace with Rome. Carthage resigns the right to wage foreign wars and promises to pay a heavy indemnity. The supremacy of the West passes to Rome. Hannibal governs Carthage, and reforms the Constitution. He plans an alliance with Antiochus of Syria against Rome. 195 Hannibal expelled from Carthage. 183 Death of Hannibal. 183-150 Internal dissensions between the Roman and national parties. Encroachments of Masinissa of Numidia. 151 War between Carthage and Masinissa. The Romans claim this a breach of treaty and prepare for a siege of Carthage. |