Roman Empire as a geographic empire founded by the Roman Republic for this lecture

Early stage

Latin League

340-338 B.C. The Latins rebelled against the Romans

Samnite Wars 343-290 B.C. fought with Greeks of Magna Graecia

Pyrrhus, King of Epirus; pyrrhic victory, wore down by two wars

Romans copied the hoplite phalanx from Greeks but the phalanx gradually became not applicable in the Roman area. Therefore Romans developed legionary formation.

Principles of Roman Diplomacy

1. The principle of "just war", to forestall
2. Generosity toward the conquered
3. Divide and rule; "your friend is your neighbor but one"
4. Sheer tenacity, being tenacious

Carthaginians

Punic Wars, to punish them for assisting Pyrrhus (Punic, named after Phoenicians)

264-241, 218-201, 149-146 B.C.

Hannibal 247-183 B.C.; the formidable general climbed across Alps with elephants in the second Punic War

Fabius Maximus Cunctator (the delayer, the staller) d. 203 B.C.; fought and harassed Carthaginians; a guerrilla war

Roman's defeat in defeat, the singer biggest defeat. And then they rallied and rebuilt to fight back and to invade Zama in Africa

Cato the Elder 234-149 B.C.

What led to Roman's victory

1. Tenacity, determination and perseverance
2. flexibility and military tactics
3. The ally and the diplomacy

Antigonids aided Hannibal, therefore Roman initiated three wars to punish them after the second Punic War.

Three Balkan Wars 199-197, 171-167, 150-146 B.C.

Greek cities assisted Antigonids, therefore Romans stroke again and then dominated the balkan peninsula.

Antiochus III Seleucid King, r 223-187 B.C.

Ptolemaic Egypt

After the first Punic War, 264-241 B.C., Romans annexed Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily

146 B.C.

The generosity towards allies, the defense war or just war against those who assisted enimies, held still until they had tools to fully carve up and conquer Egypt and Seleucid.

Pergamum

Attalus III, Ruler of Pergamum, 138-133 B.C.; Without heirs, he willed his kingdom to Rome

Unforeseen tensions for Romans: new people from conquered territories, a new class of veterans and generals, a new system to implement