2026年2月托福机经套卷(第1套) - Read an Academic Passage Q1

Carthage's Trade Network Carthage, founded by Phoenician merchants around 814 B.C.E., became a powerful city-state due to its strategic location on the Mediterranean. This position allowed Carthage to establish a vast trade network that extended across the Mediterranean and into Africa, Europe, and Asia. Carthaginian traders dealt in goods such as silver, gold, tin, and textiles. The Carthaginians excelled in maritime technology, constructing advanced ships for long-distance journeys and bulky cargo transport. They developed efficient trade routes and set up colonies, expanding their economic reach. Their prowess in navigation and trade transformed Carthage into one of the wealthiest cities in the ancient world. Carthage's wealth was also built on innovations in agriculture. Carthaginian farmers employed advanced irrigation techniques and crop rotation, leading to abundant harvests that supported both local consumption and export. However, Carthage's rise did not come without challenges. Its growing wealth and dominance in trade led to rivalry with Rome. The Punic Wars, a series of three wars fought against Rome from 264 to 146 B.C.E., were rooted in competition for control of Mediterranean trade routes. Despite initial successes, Carthage was ultimately defeated. The final blow came when the Romans launched a brutal siege on Carthage, culminating in the city's destruction.