Africa Proconsularis

  • Africa Proconsularis, also known as Africa Vetus (Old Africa), was a Roman Province located in modern Tunisia.

1. History

  • Pre-Roman history:
    • Bronze Age Dolmens at Enfida numbering 3,000, and there are more Dolmens at Dougga.
    • Carthage (814-146 BCE) a city state and sea-power.
  • Acquisition by Rome:
    • 146 BCE-439 CE: Acquired at the end of the Third Punic War after the defeat of Carthage, until it was lost in the Vandal Invasion of 439 CE.. Also acquired were the Punic Cities of Volubilis (Morocco), Lixus, Chellah, and Mogador (S. Morocco).
  • Timeline of this Province:
  • Under The Republic:
    • 146 BCE The City of Carthage was razed to the ground by the Romans, and Utica became the new Capital.
    • The Interior was left to the Client King Massinissa.
    • 146 BCE Massinissa’s kingdom was divided into smaller Roman Client Kingdoms
    • 122 BCE Gaius Gracchus founded Colonia Iunonia but it was abolished by the Roman Senate shortly after.
    • 112 BCE Jugurthine War: Jugurtha attempted to reunite these kingdoms and sacked Cirta.
    • 106 BCE Jugurtha was defeated and killed. Territory given to Mauretanian Client King Bocchus
    • 46 BCE Client King Juba of Numidia was defeated by Julius Caesar in his civil war against Pompey whose Client he was.
    • 46-25 BCE After Juba’s defeat Numidia briefly became Africa Nova,
    • 49-44 BCE Julius Caesar built the new city of Carthage
  • After Augustus’ reconstituted the Republic into an Empire (27 BCE):
    • 25 BCE Numidia, now known as Africa Nova, joined the Province of Africa Proconsularis.
    • 14-24 CE The Revolt of Tacfarinas.
    • 100 CE Carthage had population of 500,000 and was fourth most important city in the Empire.
  • After Diocletian’s Reforms (297 CE):
  • After Death of Theodosius (395 CE) and the final split into Eastern Empire and Western Empire:
    • 397 CE Council of Carthage decided on the Christian Biblical Canon; ie which canonical works would form the Christian Bible.
    • 439 CE Oct 19 Geiseric the Vandal captured Carthage. Later, he captured Rome in June 455 CE.
    • 533-4 CE Recaptured by the Byzantine Empire
  • Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Chief archeological Finds:

2. Geography

3. Political Organisation

  • Senatorial Province Type:
  • Governor:
  • Tribes and Population:
    • Berber tribes, Ancient Carthaginians of Phoenician descent, Roman Colonists
  • Language:
    • Phoenician
      • This evolved into Punic, which was still in use by 400 CE, according to St. Augustine.
  • Religion:
    • The Carthaginian (Punic) Gods continued to be allowed to be worshipped, in new Roman Temples but with Latin Names.

4. Military Organisation

  • Legions:
  • Navy:
  • Defensive Works:
    • Forts:
      • Trajan built a line of forts encircling the mountain ranges to stop Berber incursions: From Vescera (Biskra) to Ad Majores (Hennchir Besseriani) and to Castellum Dimmidi (Messaad).
    • Fossatum Africae:
      • This is a ditch with embankments stretching 460 miles (750 km) from the town of Ain Oulmene to the village of Matlawi.
  • Main Threats:
    • Potential to breakaway and reform as a Sea-power.

5. Economy

  • Chief Exports:
    • Slaves, Exotic Wild Animals, Pottery (see below), Olive Oil.
    • Grain:
      • Africa was the Granary of the Empire, 10,000,000 Bushels exported per annum to Rome under Nero.
      • African Grain Fleet transported the Grain.
  • Agriculture and Fishing:
    • Olives, Beans, Figs, Dates, Grapes, Fruit, Wool, Dyes, valuable Wood for furniture making.
    • Grain:
  • Manufacturing:
    • Pottery:
  • Mines:
  • Mints:

6. Transport

7. Relationship with Rome:

  • Africa was the ‘Granary of The Empire’, exporting 10,000,000 Bushels of Grain per Annum.
  • By 50 BCE it is thought that Africa was the most important source of Rome’s Grain supply, Africa supplied Rome’s Grain for 8 months of the year, using the African Grain Fleet. Later, Egypt would supply the grain for the other 4 months.
  • Rome continually had to act to prevent the re-emergence of a major maritime power like Carthage, particularly during civil wars, but were finally unable to prevent the Rise of Vandal Naval Power.
  • In 435 CE, the Vandals created a North African Kingdom based in Carthage, under King Geiseric between 428-477 CE, who also developed a powerful navy.
  • In 455 CE his Fleet arrived in Italy and conducted the Second Sack of Rome. The Vandals then became the dominant sea power in the western Mediterranean until 534 CE, when it was re-conquered by the Byzantine Empire.

8. History of Christianity in this Province:

  • 397 CE Council of Carthage decided on the Christian Biblical Canon, i.e. which canonical works would form The Bible.

9. Roman Authors describing this Province:

10. Films

 

Africa Proconsularis

Get Directions Go to Visitor Map
Posted in .