The ancient city that served as a major center for trade and culture in the Mediterranean was Carthage. Located in present-day Tunisia, Carthage emerged as a powerful city-state founded by Phoenician settlers around the 9th century BCE. It became a hub for commerce, attracting traders and settlers from across the Mediterranean, facilitating trade in goods like textiles, metals, and agricultural products. Carthage's influence extended beyond trade; it also played a significant role in cultural exchanges and conflicts, particularly with Rome. The city's strategic position allowed it to dominate maritime trade, leading to its wealth and power until its eventual destruction by Rome in 146 BCE.