Ancient Carthage was located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in what is today the country of Tunisia. At its peak, Carthage ruled a significant portion of the Mediterranean coast including Northern Africa, Southern Spain and the islands of Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily.
As the Roman Republic rose in power, Carthage became increasingly in conflict with Rome and in 246 BC, Carthage fought the first Punic war against Rome but was defeated and Rome took control of the island of Sicily.