Rome's conquest of the Mediterranean was a pivotal moment in ancient history. As the Roman Republic expanded its influence, it absorbed Hellenistic kingdoms in the East and conquered territories in the West, transforming into a vast empire.

This expansion brought immense wealth and cultural exchange to Rome. The conquest of Greece, Syria, Egypt, Iberia, and Gaul reshaped the Mediterranean world, establishing Roman dominance and laying the foundation for centuries of imperial rule.

Conquest of the Eastern Mediterranean

Hellenistic Kingdoms and Roman Expansion

• After the death of Alexander the Great, his empire was divided into several Hellenistic kingdoms (Macedonia, Greece, Syria, Egypt)
• Rome began to expand its influence and control over these kingdoms in the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE
• The Hellenistic kingdoms were weakened by internal conflicts and wars, making them vulnerable to Roman conquest
• Rome's superior military organization, tactics, and resources allowed them to gradually conquer and absorb these kingdoms

Conquest of Macedonia and Greece

• Rome first became involved in the affairs of Macedonia and Greece during the Illyrian Wars (229-228 BCE)
• In 168 BCE, Rome defeated Perseus of Macedon at the Battle of Pydna, effectively ending Macedonian independence
• Greece came under Roman control after the defeat of the Achaean League in 146 BCE
• The Roman conquest of Greece brought an influx of Greek culture, art, and philosophy to Rome (Hellenization)

Annexation of Syria and Egypt

• The Seleucid Empire (Syria) was weakened by dynastic struggles and wars with the Ptolemaic Kingdom (Egypt)
• Rome intervened in the Syrian Wars (192-188 BCE) and defeated Antiochus III, limiting Seleucid power
• In 64 BCE, Pompey the Great annexed Syria as a Roman province
• Egypt, ruled by the Ptolemaic dynasty, became a Roman client state after the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BCE
• The wealth and resources of Egypt, particularly grain, were crucial to Rome's growing population and economy

Conquest of the Western Mediterranean

Expansion into the Iberian Peninsula

• Rome's involvement in the Iberian Peninsula began during the Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) against Carthage
• After defeating Carthage, Rome gradually conquered the native Iberian tribes (Celtiberians, Lusitanians) over the course of the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE
• The Iberian Peninsula provided Rome with valuable resources, such as silver, copper, and agricultural products
• Key Roman victories in Iberia include the Siege of Numantia (133 BCE) and the Sertorian War (80-72 BCE)

Conquest of Gaul

• Gaul, roughly corresponding to modern-day France, was inhabited by various Celtic tribes
• Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul (58-50 BCE) brought the region under Roman control
• Caesar's victories over the Gallic tribes, such as the Helvetii and the Nervii, are chronicled in his work "Commentarii de Bello Gallico"
• The conquest of Gaul provided Rome with a strategic buffer against Germanic tribes and access to valuable resources (tin, iron, agricultural products)

Client Kingdoms and Provincia

• As Rome expanded, it often established client kingdoms in conquered territories, allowing local rulers to maintain power as long as they remained loyal to Rome
• Examples of client kingdoms include Numidia (North Africa), Judea (Palestine), and Mauretania (Northwest Africa)
• Client kingdoms served as a cost-effective way for Rome to control territories without direct military occupation
• The term "provincia" referred to a territory under direct Roman administration, governed by a Roman magistrate (proconsul or propraetor)
• The first Roman provincia was Sicily, established after the First Punic War (241 BCE)