By the time the Second Punic War had ended, Carthage was a mere shadow of its former power. However, Hannibal proved to be as good a "sufes" (chief magistrate) as he was as a general,* and soon Carthage recovered. However, Masinissa, governor of Numidia and a strong ally of the Romans, was able to pick at Carthage until Carthage attacked Numidia in 150 BC, breaking the treaty that ended the Second War. Rome did little to stop Masinissa. Whenever Carthage complained to Rome about his actions, Rome sent a tribunal to them, and then decided in Masinissa's favor. Basically Carthage was pushed into fighting again. Rome declared war on Carthage in 149 BC, and an army landed in Africa after a long blockade. Carthage surrendered, as they could not take the onslaught of Roman might. The Roman terms were bitterly opposed by Carthage, as they called for the physical destruction of the city. This was in no small part due to the constant calls of Cato the Elder, who ended each speech he made in the Senate with "Carthago delenda est!" (Carthage must be destroyed). Carthage managed to withstand a siege for 3 years before yielding. In 146, Scipio Aemilianus (S. Africanus Minor) stormed and sacked Carthage. It is alledged that the Roman army then turned up stones, plowed the land over, and salted it.** By salting it, they guaranteed that no Carthage could rise up from the ruins of the old. This tale has been told for many years however, there is debate as to whether the Romans did indeed salt the earth. The territory was made into the Roman province of Africa.

* Whether Hannibal held political office has been questioned but reference to this was found in The Oxford Classical Dictionary on page 487.

** First reference to "salting" the earth at Carthage was made by mediaevalist Gregorovius when he compared Rome's actions with those of Boniface VIII at Palestrina