Editing Mallorca (section)

===Phoenicians, Romans, and Late Antiquity===
[[File:Pollentia 34.jpg|thumb|left|Ruins of the Roman city of [[Alcúdia|Pollentia]]]]
The [[Phoenicians]], a seafaring people from the [[Levant]], arrived around the eighth century BC and established numerous colonies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dlthede.net/LWT/Spain.html|title=Spain|website=dlthede.net|access-date=15 December 2017|archive-date=15 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215110917/http://dlthede.net/LWT/Spain.html|url-status=live|first=Linda Q.|last=Thede|year=2017}}</ref>{{SPS|date=December 2023}} The island eventually came under the control of [[Carthage]] in North Africa, which had become the principal Phoenician city. After the [[Second Punic War]], Carthage lost all of its overseas possessions and the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] took over.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

The island was occupied by the Romans in 123&nbsp;BC under [[Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus]]. It flourished under Roman rule, during which time the towns of Pollentia ([[Alcúdia]]), and Palmaria ([[Palma, Majorca|Palma]]) were founded. In addition, the northern town of [[Bocchoris (City)|Bocchoris]], dating back to pre-Roman times, was a federated city to [[Ancient Rome|Rome]].<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0006:id=oppidum-bochoritanum Oppidum Bocchoritanum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816204710/https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0006:id=oppidum-bochoritanum |date=16 August 2021 }}. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites .</ref> The local economy was largely driven by [[olive]] cultivation, [[viticulture]], and [[salt mining]]. Mallorcan soldiers were valued within the Roman legions for their skill with the [[sling (weapon)|sling]] ([[Balearic slingers]]).<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170318145033/http://www.northsouthguides.com/history_of_mallorca.html History of Mallorca]}}. North South Guides.</ref>

In 427, [[Gunderic]] and the [[Vandals]] captured the island. [[Geiseric]], son of Gunderic, governed Mallorca and used it as his base to loot and plunder settlements around the Mediterranean<ref name="The Dark Ages in Mallorca">[http://mallorcaincognita.com/historydarkages_english.html The Dark Ages in Mallorca] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207142841/http://www.mallorcaincognita.com/historydarkages_english.html |date=7 February 2012 }} mallorcaincognita.com, not dated</ref> until Roman rule was restored in 465.