Research Guide Overview: https://www.mooc-carthage.com Discover compelling research paper topics on ancient Carthage suitable for undergraduate, graduate, and independent research projects. Each topic includes suggested approaches, primary sources, and bibliographic guidance for successful academic writing.
Undergraduate Research Topics
Political and Social History
Topic 1: Carthaginian Government Structure vs. Roman Republic Comparative analysis of political institutions and decision-making processes
Research Approach: Compare Carthaginian oligarchic republic with Roman republican institutions, examining how different political structures influenced military and diplomatic decisions.
Primary Sources: Polybius (Book VI), Aristotle (Politics), inscriptions from Carthaginian monuments
Key Questions: How did political structure affect military recruitment? What role did merchant families play in governance? How did constitutional differences contribute to Punic War outcomes?
Source Materials: Hoyos’ “The Carthaginians,” Miles’ “Carthage Must Be Destroyed,” constitutional inscriptions
Topic 2: Women in Carthaginian Society: Evidence from Archaeology and Literature Examining women’s roles through material culture and ancient sources
Research Approach: Analyze archaeological evidence (burials, inscriptions, artifacts) alongside literary sources to reconstruct women’s social status, religious roles, and economic participation.
Primary Sources: Virgil’s Aeneid (Dido), funerary inscriptions, archaeological reports from domestic contexts
Key Questions: What evidence exists for women’s religious authority? How did Carthaginian women’s status compare to contemporary Mediterranean societies? What do burial goods reveal about gender roles?
Source Materials: Gender archaeology studies, Carthaginian epigraphy collections, comparative Mediterranean women’s history
Economic and Cultural Studies
Topic 3: Carthaginian Trade Networks: Economic Integration in the Ancient Mediterranean Analysis of commercial relationships and economic impact
Research Approach: Map Carthaginian trade routes and analyze economic relationships with trading partners, examining both cooperative and competitive aspects.
Primary Sources: Trade goods distribution patterns, harbor archaeological evidence, ancient geographic sources (Strabo)
Key Questions: How did Carthaginian trade practices differ from Greek and Roman methods? What role did standardized weights and measures play? How did trade relationships affect cultural exchange?
Source Materials: Archaeological evidence of traded goods, numismatic studies, Mediterranean economic history
Topic 4: Religious Syncretism in Carthaginian Colonies Cultural adaptation and religious change in colonial contexts
Research Approach: Examine how Carthaginian religion adapted to local conditions in Spanish, Sardinian, and Sicilian colonies, analyzing both continuity and change.
Primary Sources: Votive inscriptions, temple architecture, ritual deposits
Key Questions: How did colonial religious practices differ from metropolitan Carthage? What evidence exists for incorporation of local deities? How did religious practices facilitate or hinder colonial administration?
Source Materials: Colonial archaeology reports, comparative religion studies, epigraphy collections
Graduate-Level Research Topics
Advanced Archaeological Analysis
Topic 5: Technological Innovation in Carthaginian Shipbuilding: Archaeological Evidence from Mediterranean Wrecks Technical analysis of maritime technology and innovation
Research Approach: Synthesize archaeological evidence from Carthaginian shipwrecks to analyze technological developments and their impact on naval supremacy.
Primary Sources: Excavation reports from Marsala ships, Egadi Islands battle site, comparative shipwreck data
Key Questions: What innovations can be attributed to Carthaginian shipwrights? How did ship design evolve during the Punic Wars? What does shipwreck distribution reveal about trade patterns?
Source Materials: Nautical archaeology journals, ship reconstruction studies, Mediterranean maritime databases
Topic 6: Urban Planning and Architecture in Carthaginian Cities: A Comparative Study Spatial analysis of Carthaginian urban development
Research Approach: Compare urban planning principles across Carthaginian sites using archaeological evidence and spatial analysis techniques.
Primary Sources: Site plans from Carthage, Cartagena, Cagliari; architectural surveys; urban archaeology reports
Key Questions: Did Carthaginians follow consistent urban planning principles? How did colonial cities adapt metropolitan models? What do urban layouts reveal about social organization?
Source Materials: Urban archaeology studies, comparative ancient urbanism, GIS spatial analysis
Interdisciplinary Approaches
Topic 7: Environmental Archaeology and Climate Change in Carthaginian Territory Examining human-environment interaction and adaptation
Research Approach: Use environmental archaeology methods to examine how climate change and environmental factors affected Carthaginian agriculture, settlement patterns, and economic strategies.
Primary Sources: Paleoclimatic data, pollen analysis, archaeobotanical remains, soil studies
Key Questions: How did climate change affect Carthaginian agriculture? What environmental factors influenced site selection? How did environmental degradation contribute to political instability?
Source Materials: Environmental archaeology journals, climate reconstruction studies, geoarchaeology research
Topic 8: Digital Reconstruction of Ancient Carthage: Methodology and Interpretation Analyzing digital archaeology methods and their scholarly implications
Research Approach: Critically examine digital reconstruction projects of Carthaginian sites, analyzing methodology, assumptions, and interpretive implications.
Primary Sources: 3D reconstruction projects, photogrammetry data, virtual reality applications
Key Questions: What assumptions underlie digital reconstructions? How do visualization choices affect interpretation? What are the scholarly benefits and limitations of digital archaeology?
Source Materials: Digital archaeology literature, reconstruction project documentation, visualization theory
Specialized Research Areas
Military History and Strategy
Topic 9: Hannibal’s Intelligence Networks: Information Warfare in the Ancient World Analysis of intelligence gathering and strategic communication
Research Approach: Examine evidence for Carthaginian intelligence operations, communication systems, and strategic information management during the Punic Wars.
Primary Sources: Polybius accounts of military campaigns, Livy’s narratives, archaeological evidence for communication systems
Key Questions: How did Carthaginians gather and transmit strategic information? What role did allies play in intelligence networks? How did information advantages affect military outcomes?
Source Materials: Military history studies, communication archaeology, ancient warfare analysis
Topic 10: Siege Warfare Technology: Carthaginian Innovations and Adaptations Technical analysis of military engineering and siege tactics
Research Approach: Analyze archaeological and textual evidence for Carthaginian siege technology, comparing with contemporary practices and examining innovations.
Primary Sources: Siege descriptions in Polybius and Livy, archaeological evidence from siege sites, technical treatises
Key Questions: What siege technologies did Carthaginians develop or adopt? How did siege practices evolve during the Punic Wars? What do siege sites reveal about military engineering?
Source Materials: Military archaeology studies, ancient technology analysis, siege warfare research
Advanced Theoretical Approaches
Postcolonial and Critical Perspectives
Topic 11: Decolonizing Carthaginian History: African Perspectives on Ancient Mediterranean Civilization Challenging Eurocentric interpretations through African-centered analysis
Research Approach: Examine how traditional scholarship has marginalized African aspects of Carthaginian civilization and propose alternative interpretive frameworks.
Primary Sources: Archaeological evidence for African cultural elements, indigenous North African historical traditions
Key Questions: https://www.mooc-carthage.com How has Eurocentric scholarship distorted understanding of Carthaginian civilization? What evidence exists for connections with sub-Saharan Africa? How can African perspectives enrich historical interpretation?
Source Materials: Postcolonial theory literature, African historiography, critical archaeology studies
Topic 12: Memory and Identity in Post-Carthaginian Tunisia: Ancient Heritage in Modern Context Examining how ancient history functions in contemporary cultural identity
Research Approach: Analyze how modern Tunisian society engages with Carthaginian heritage, examining both official discourse and popular culture expressions.
Primary Sources: Modern Tunisian cultural productions, heritage tourism materials, educational curricula
Key Questions: How does Carthaginian heritage function in modern Tunisian identity? What aspects of ancient history are emphasized or marginalized? How does heritage tourism affect historical interpretation?
Source Materials: Heritage studies literature, modern Tunisian cultural analysis, tourism studies
Research Methodology and Resources
Primary Source Access
Archaeological Databases:
- Fasti Online archaeological database
- Archaeology Data Service archives
- JSTOR archaeological journal collections
- Local museum research collections
Epigraphic Resources:
- Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum
- Repertoire d’Epigraphie Semitique
- Digital epigraphy projects
- Museum inscription catalogs
Literary Sources:
- Perseus Digital Library classical texts
- Loeb Classical Library translations
- Brepols ancient author databases
- Critical editions with scholarly commentary
Secondary Source Strategies
Academic Databases:
- JSTOR humanities collections
- Project MUSE scholarly literature
- Cambridge Core archaeological journals
- Oxford Bibliography ancient history sections
Specialized Libraries:
- Institute for Advanced Study libraries
- American School of Classical Studies libraries
- European archaeological institute collections
- University special collections with Mediterranean focus
Writing and Citation Guidelines
Academic Standards
Citation Style: Use Chicago Manual of Style for ancient history or discipline-specific formats Source Evaluation: Prioritize peer-reviewed scholarship and primary archaeological reports Language Considerations: Include original language citations for primary sources when possible Ethical Research: Acknowledge cultural heritage concerns and indigenous perspectives
Research Ethics
Cultural Sensitivity: Respect modern Tunisian and North African perspectives on ancient heritage Collaboration: Seek collaboration with Tunisian scholars and institutions when possible Open Access: Consider open access publication options for broader scholarly impact Community Engagement: Explore ways research can benefit local communities and heritage preservation
Funding and Support Opportunities
Research Grants
Undergraduate: University research grants, honor society funding, department awards Graduate: Fulbright scholarships, Wenner-Gren Foundation grants, archaeological fieldwork funding International: Tunisian cultural ministry partnerships, Franco-Tunisian research collaborations Digital Projects: Digital humanities grants, technology innovation funding
Professional Development
Conferences: American Schools of Oriental Research, Archaeological Institute of America meetings Workshops: Digital archaeology training, ancient Mediterranean studies seminars Fieldwork: Excavation opportunities in Tunisia and other Carthaginian sites Language Training: Ancient language instruction, modern Arabic for research in Tunisia
Your Research Journey
These research topics provide starting points for serious academic investigation of ancient Carthage, designed to contribute original scholarship while building research skills and historical understanding. Each topic offers opportunities for innovative approaches and significant contributions to Carthaginian studies.
The combination of traditional historical methods with new technologies and theoretical approaches ensures research relevance while maintaining scholarly rigor.
Begin your ancient Carthage research project with expert guidance and comprehensive resources. Visit mooc-carthage.com/research for detailed research guides, source databases, and connection with scholars working on Carthaginian studies. Transform your curiosity into scholarly contribution!