Decolonizing the Ancient Mediterranean: Lessons from V Century BCE Athens and Carthage

During the V century BCE, Athens gained unprecedented levels of wealth and power, largely through land appropriation and tribute collection. Whether this imperialistic model was necessary for the economic and cultural achievements traditionally associated with Athens and other sea powers of the time remains an open question. This paper contributes to this debate by offering a Mediterranean perspective and examining the ancient and modern historiographical traditions that depict imperialism as a defining feature of Athenian political identity. Using the lesser-known but equally remarkable maritime expansion of Carthage as a contrasting case, it examines the limitations of this imperialistic framework. Drawing on archaeological evidence such as land surveys and funerary settlements in Spain, North Africa and Sardinia, the study suggests that conventional models centered on imperialism inadequately capture the distinctive nature of Carthaginian influence during this period. Overcoming such predetermined notions through comparative and postcolonial approaches can improve our understanding of local historical processes in regions such as Sardinia and Tunisia, while placing more emphasis on concepts such as that of Mediterranean connectivity and the related networks of commercial and information exchange.