How did Carthage take control of the productive parts of Sardinia?

Carthage’s control over the most productive regions of Sardinia was established through a transition from peaceful trade to military conquest. Initially, Phoenician traders established coastal settlements on the island—such as Caralis (modern Cagliari), Sulcis, and Tharros—beginning in the 9th or 8th century BCE, which coexisted peacefully with the indigenous Proto-Sardinian population.1

As Carthage rose to power in the western Mediterranean, it sought to secure its influence against potential Greek expansion. Around 500 BCE, this geopolitical struggle prompted Carthage to shift its strategy from commercial cooperation to direct military intervention. The Carthaginians launched a military campaign to seize the island's most productive areas, effectively forcing the indigenous Proto-Sardinian tribes to retreat into the mountainous interior. This control remained in place until the First Punic War, after which Carthage was forced to cede the island to Rome in 238 BCE.2134