The Political and Administrative System of the Barcids in Iberia

Abstract

After the end of the First Punic War and the suppression of the Mercenary War, Iberia became the primary base for Carthage to accumulate wealth and rebuild its military strength in preparation for renewed conflict with Rome. Following Hamilcar Barca’s landing at Gades in 237 BC, a new phase of expansion began – one that was subsequently continued by Hasdrubal and Hannibal. The political and administrative system established by the Barcid dynasty in Iberia played a pivotal role in Carthaginian expansion and governance in the western Mediterranean. However, it remains understudied due to the scarcity of Punic written sources and the limited scope of Greek and Roman accounts referring specifically to Spain during this period.

This study aims to reconstruct the structures and mechanisms of Carthaginian rule in Iberia and to assess their influence on the region’s political and economic development. The analysis focuses on five key aspects of Barcid policy: the social division between allies and non-allies, reflected in different systems of land tenure; methods of engaging with the local population, including political alliances and intermarriage; the founding of new cities, settlements, and military camps to consolidate territorial control; the exploitation of Iberia’s abundant natural resources; and economic strategies, particularly the minting of new coinage.

The evidence suggests that while the administrative system in Iberia resembled that of other Carthaginian territories such as Sicily and North Africa, it also exhibited distinctive features shaped by the Iberian context. Despite its fundamentally colonial character, this policy introduced new technologies and may have brought a brief period of relative stability, offering local communities a model of centralized authority.

This analysis contributes to a fuller understanding of the motives and goals of Barcid administration, shedding light on the political and economic dynamics that shaped Iberia in the years leading up to and during the Second Punic War.