128 THE SHEEP. 



New Carthage, which to this hour retains the name of Car- 

 tagena. In the year 216 B. c., the fatal siege of the city of 

 Saguntum, situated in the modern kingdom of Valencia, gave 

 rise to the memorable wars between Carthage and Rome, 

 which ended in the destruction of the Carthaginian Common- 

 wealth, and the supremacy of its relentless rival. In the 

 meanwhile, the Romans pursued the conquest of the devoted 

 country to which they had been called as protectors. But 

 nearly 200 years elapsed before they were able io bring it 

 under subjection. At length all Spain became a peaceful 

 province of Rome, receiving in exchange for her independ- 

 ence a longer exemption from the troubles of war, and a 

 greater degree of public prosperity, than she has ever again 

 been permitted to enjoy. Under the wise administration of 

 Roman laws, Spain soon became the richest, most indus- 

 trious, and most powerful, of all the dependent nations of 

 the empire. It was during the period of Roman dominion, 

 continued for more than 450 years, that this country became 

 distinguished for her commerce, her agriculture, and her 

 other arts. Some of her cities were reckoned amongst the 

 most opulent of the ancient world ; and aqueducts, bridges, 

 and ways of communication, now in ruins, attest a degree of 

 civilization and refinement to which, except under the partial 

 dominion of the Caliphs, she never again reached. 



The Roman writers, in their casual notices of the produc- 

 tions of this important province, speak of its wool as being 

 greatly esteemed for its fineness. It is described as being 

 black. Pliny the younger informs us that the finest wool, of 

 a black colour, was brought from Turditania ; and Strabo, 

 who wrote in the reign of Tiberius Caesar, says, that wool, 

 suited for the finer garments of the Romans, was brought 

 from the same country. Pliny, while he mentions the fine 

 wool of Turditania, states, that yet superior to it was the red 

 wool of Boetica, that is, of the countries of the Boetis, now 

 the Guadalquiver, forming the modern Andalusia, and part 

 of Estremadura. The red wool of Boetica still remains, and 



