UNESCO Ancient Civilizations of Africa (Editor G. Mokhtar)

The Carthaginian period
Syphax's defection, and his son Masinissa rendered good service in Spain.
When Rome was victorious Masinissa decided to back what must have
seemed to be the winning side and made his peace with Scipio. On
returning to Africa he could not establish himself as head of his tribe but
gathered a private force and after two years of epic adventures was waiting
to fight for Scipio when he landed. He played a major part in initial
successes in —203 before Hannibal was finallyrecalled from Italy. The
final battle took place at Zama (Sab Biar) in 202 when Hannibal suffered
defeat. Masinissa, who had meanwhile driven Syphax out of his territory,
provided 4000 cavalry, contributing decisively to the Roman victory. Under
the peace terms, Carthage gave up her fleet and had her territory in Africa
limited by a line roughly from Thabraca to Thaenae; but she was also
to return to Masinissa any land his ancestors ever held, a fruitful cause
of disputes, and was forbidden to make war outside Africa or even within
it without Rome's permission.
Masinissa and the kingdom of Numidia
Carthage survived another fiftyyears, but this period of the history of
the Maghrib is primarily that of a rapid advance in the economy and society
of most of the tribes close to the Mediterranean. It was a historical
paradox that the chief figurein this, which involved a more rapid spread
of Carthaginian civilization than ever before, should have been Carthage's
great enemy Masinissa. An epic figure of enormous physical vigour and
natural talents he had been educated at Carthage, and undoubtedly assessed
correctly the use that he could make of Carthaginian civilization in his
own territory. His personality was such that later, instead of merely being
regarded as a useful deserter by the Romans after —206, he established
close ties of friendship with a number of the most influential Roman
politicians. He was rewarded after Zama with the eastern, more fertile
parts of Syphax's territory, and thus ruled from Cirta (Constantine) a
territory which extended from somewhere west of that city to the new
Carthaginian boundary. (The less developed area between Masinissa's
kingdom and the Moulouya was left to Syphax's son.) Several ancient
writers stressed that it was Masinissa who substantially increased the
agricultural production of Numidia, Strabo claiming that he converted the
nomads into farmers. Like all generalizations this is exaggerated, but there
is no doubt that there was a substantial increase in the area of cereal
production, with a surplus for export, even if stock-rearing continued to
predominate. This was of great significance for the future and still more
expansive development in Roman times. Trade in other products was
limited and the only coins issued were of bronze and copper. Masinissa's
capital would appear to have grown into a real city (though the population
of 200000 attributed to it under Masinissa's son must be a gross
exaggeration). The archaeology is not well known but its urban aspect
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