You are in Carthago Novo (“New Carthage”) in the year 425 Annus Domini. It was 15 years ago that great Rome, Mother of Cities, was sacked by Alaric’s Goths. For three generations, as Rome has weakened and the barbarians have encroached further and further into the heart of the old Empire, Africa Province has provided more and more of the grain, trade, and money needed to pay the legions to try to protect the peace. As Rome’s star has declined, Carthago Novo’s has risen. Many wealthy aristocrats have moved here, leaving their villas in harm’s way, for the sake of safety and peace. You, too, are welcome. Ours is a beautiful city with a history already a thousand years old.

Its [urban] plan is completely worthy of praise: in fact, the regularity of its streets is like that of a plantation. It has a Music Hall...and a port that is quite curious in appearance, which seems to provide, as far as one can see, a calm sea with nothing to fear for ships. You will find there an exceptional public amenity, the Street of the Silversmiths [vicus argentariorum]. As for amusements, the inhab iitants get excited about only one spectacle: the games of the Amphitheatre." Expositio Totus Mundi [The Description of the Entire World], Roman 4th century survey.

Sources: Peter Heather, The Fall of the Roman Empire, pp. 279-280.