Carthaginians in Senegambia

Some scholars believe that Hanno the Navigator's expedition beyond the Pillars of Hercules went as far as the Senegambia region, or perhaps even as far as the Gulf of Guinea. Hanno's Periplus reports his establishment of several colonies along the way, the furthest being "Cerne" which has never been conclusively identified with a modern location.

What if Hanno set up a successful Carthaginian colony in the Senegambia area, perhaps around OTL Dakar? How could we get it to survive in some form, and what are some options?

Might the Carthaginians become more oriented on West Africa rather than on Europe? Could the Carthaginian government relocate there should the Romans still defeat it? Could the colony maintain its independence from the Roman Empire, or would its presence attract Roman interests? What impact could such direct Mediterranean trade and influences have on the development of native West African civilizations, and what would happen in the vicinity after the settlement inevitably loses its Mediterranean character?

I've been trying to read up on the prehistory of Senegambia but it's a bit difficult. All I can seem to find is that there is evidence of human habitation in the area long before this period, but modern Senegambian ethnic groups like the Wolof didn't show up until much later, around the 11th century CE. I can't seem to find any references confirming when agriculture was introduced to the region.
 
It would be hard to relocate. As soon as carthage falls the colony will decline and fall as well. It will go on forgotten
This. It's one thing for Phoenician civilization to steadily move from Tyre to Carthage, but a rapid move from Carthage to Gambia after a defeat by Rome... probably not going to happen. If Carthage had a lot of time, you could see a Punic West African coastline slowly develop, but there's no way that West Africa is going to dominate Punic interests over Iberia and the Mediterranean.
 
Why not? Now, Carthaginian government would never've moved there. But outside the Med might've been seen as a good place to run to and been a popular refufee target during the Roman conquests. That'd give it a decent-sized, ept population.

It'd probably prosper and throw off near subcolonies, though it wouldn't've been as rich as Carthage due to worse location.
 
Well, perhaps a good start would be the Cambridge History of Africa, Volume 2.

It seems the Carthaginians were trading for gold in West Africa. The Romans knew about Cerne and even had a few sporadic expeditions down the the Atlantic coast of Africa, but there's no explanation for what happened to Cerne or why the Romans didn't pursue the West African gold trade.

Apparently Strabo referenced the "cities of the Tyrians" being destroyed by local tribes by the first century CE... These may have been the colonies set up by Hanno.

Yes, I admit the idea of the Carthaginian moving to Senegal is pretty far-fetched, but what of the basic premise? Could a Carthaginian-founded settlement in the area somehow survive into the Roman period, either as an independent entity or as a Roman territory? Might this lead to stronger connections and more profound influences between the Mediterranean world and West Africa in the future?
 
Regarding the Mediterranean I see the situation continuing as IOTL. Dakar* wouldn't grow much more than Ceuta or any of the other westernmost Carthaginian ports in the Mediterranean and certainly no government would flee there or something like that. Those Carhaginians who aren't killed will just accept Roman sovereignty and continue with their business. They are merchants in a now Roman lake after all.

The Romans will probably not give much about it, leaving it and the other western ports to be swallowed by their allies Numidia and Mauretania. But now, would Mauretania have the strenght and will to expand down to Dakar*? I know they made some maritime expeditions to the Canaries at some point but for the most part they just sat in the Atlas.

If the settlement becomes the seed of a blend "Punic-Senegalese" civilization that maintains trade with Mauretania and later Rome, however, it would be interesting. The Romans would probably stay out much like they left the Nubian kingdoms to their own business. So low level butterflies for the most part, at least in the first centuries.

Now, it would be interesting to see if a "firmer" trade line with the Mediterranean would result in a conversion to Christianity once it spreads over the Empire, and if it would become a jumping board for conversions/expansion along the Niger Valley. And what would happen when Islam rolls next?
 
If you like this idea you should try Sunbird by Wilbur Smith.

Same sort of premise, i think its a very good book.
 

Art

Monthly Donor
Sounds more like a southern King of Ys idea.

Ys being a Breton legend of a lost city that Poul Anderson made into a four book series about a northern Carthaginian colony for the tin trade. Very interesting series, if forshadowed.
 
Those Carhaginians who aren't killed will just accept Roman sovereignty and continue with their business. They are merchants in a now Roman lake after all.

...except, Hannibal had moved the Punic Wars into a genocidal struggle, meaning accepting wasn't so much of an option for plenty. That's why I'm thinking that refugees could populate it.
 
Top