The ancient city that served as a vital trade hub in the Mediterranean was Carthage. Located in present-day Tunisia, Carthage was a powerful city-state and the center of the ancient Punic civilization. It played a crucial role in trade networks, connecting various cultures across the Mediterranean through commerce in goods such as textiles, metals, and agricultural products. Carthage's wealth and strategic location led to conflicts with Rome, culminating in the Punic Wars, which ultimately resulted in its destruction in 146 BC. Despite its fall, Carthage's legacy as a dominant trading power endures in historical narratives.