Carthage was the greatest trading nation in the ancient world. Their ships sailed as far north as Britain where they traded tin with the locals, making them the sole importers of tin into the Mediterranean for many years. Carthage even had a monopoly on the colour purple! Tyrian dye was one of the most prized commodities in the ancient world, and could only be purchased from Carthage. Even the richest Roman citizens could only afford small amounts of the dye, and so purple clothing became a symbol of high status in Rome and across the world.
