became Phoenician provinces. Towns were founded;
above all, “Spanish Carthage” (Cartagena)
was established by Hasdrubal on the only good harbour
along the south coast, containing the splendid “royal
castle” of its founder. Agriculture flourished,
and, still more, mining in consequence of the fortunate
discovery of the silver-mines of Cartagena, which
a century afterwards had a yearly produce of more
than 360,000 pounds (36,000,000 sesterces). Most
of the communities as far as the Ebro became dependent
on Carthage and paid tribute to it. Hasdrubal
skilfully by every means, even by intermarriages,
attached the chiefs to the interests of Carthage.
Thus Carthage acquired in Spain a rich market for
its commerce and manufactures; and not only did the
revenues of the province sustain the army, but there
remained a balance to be remitted to Carthage and reserved
for future use. The province formed and at the
same time trained the army; regular levies took place
in the territory subject to Carthage; the prisoners
of war were introduced into the Carthaginian corps.
Contingents and mercenaries, as many as were desired,
were supplied by the dependent communities.
During his long life of warfare the soldier found
in the camp a second home, and found a substitute for
patriotism in fidelity to his standard and enthusiastic
attachment to his great leaders. Constant conflicts
with the brave Iberians and Celts created a serviceable
infantry, to co-operate with the excellent Numidian
cavalry.
The Carthaginian Government and the Barcides
So far as Carthage was concerned, the Barcides were
allowed to go on. Since the citizens were not
asked for regular contributions, but on the contrary
some benefit accrued to them and commerce recovered
in Spain what it had lost in Sicily and Sardinia,
the Spanish war and the Spanish army with its brilliant
victories and important successes soon became so popular
that it was even possible in particular emergencies,
such as after Hamilcar’s fall, to effect the
despatch of considerable reinforcements of African
troops to Spain; and the governing party, whether
well or ill affected, had to maintain silence, or at
any rate to content themselves with complaining to
each other or to their friends in Rome regarding the
demagogic officers and the mob.
The Roman Government and the Barcides
On the part of Rome too nothing took place calculated
seriously to alter the course of Spanish affairs.
The first and chief cause of the inactivity of the
Romans was undoubtedly their very want of acquaintance
with the circumstances of the remote peninsula—which
was certainly also Hamilcar’s main reason for
selecting Spain and not, as might otherwise have been
possible, Africa itself for the execution of his plan.
The explanations with which the Carthaginian generals
met the Roman commissioners sent to Spain to procure
information on the spot, and their assurances that
all this was done only to provide the means of promptly