Then came the Greeks and the Carthaginians
🏛️ The Ancient Greeks
Ancient Greece is one of the most important civilisations in Ancient History. According to your book, the Greeks arrived on the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century BC. They founded two colonies in the northeast: Rhode and Emporion (in 575 BC).
Rhode is today Roses, and Emporion is Empúries, near L'Escala. Both are in Girona, in Catalonia. You can still visit the ruins of Emporion by the sea!
⚔️ The Carthaginians
The Carthaginians were also excellent sailors. They came from the city of Carthage, in North Africa (today Tunisia), in the 6th century BC. They took control of the Phoenician colony of Ebusus in the Balearic Islands, and in 228 BC they set up the colony of Carthago Nova (today Cartagena).
Hannibal and the siege of Saguntum
- 1🧔 221 BC: Hannibal
A Carthaginian general called Hannibal became leader in Hispania and decided to conquer the fortified city of Saguntum (Sagunto), an ally of the Romans.
- 2🏰 A siege
Hannibal laid siege to the city: his army surrounded it and did not let anybody in or out. It was very difficult to take control of Saguntum because of its walls.
- 3⏳ Eight months
The people of Saguntum fought hard and the siege lasted eight months, until Hannibal and the Carthaginians defeated them.
Hannibal is famous for crossing the Pyrenees and the Alps with his army and war elephants to attack Rome. His favourite elephant was called Surus, which means the Syrian.