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successor-state to Alexander's empire, the Ptolemaic kingdom of
Egypt in 31/30 BC - The Hellenistic period was characterized by a new
wave of [Greek] colonists which established Greek cities and
kingdoms in Asia and Africa [including in Israel - The Decapolis ("Ten
Cities"; Greek: deka, ten; polis, city) of Jesus' day]
Rise of Rome [via - trade, goodwill, treaties, politics, policy and lastly overt military action]: Widespread Roman
interference in the Greek World was probably inevitable given the general manner of the ascendency of the Roman
Republic. This Roman-Greek interaction began as a consequence of the Greek city-states located along the coast of
southern Italy. Rome had come to dominate the Italian peninsula, and desired the submission of the Greek cities to
its rule. Although they initially resisted, allying themselves with Pyrrhus of Epirus, and defeating the Romans at
several battles, the Greek cities were unable to maintain this position and were absorbed by the Roman republic.
Shortly afterwards, Rome became involved in Sicily, fighting against the Carthaginans in the First Punic War. The
end result was the complete conquest of Sicily, including its previously powerful Greek cities, by the Romans. The
independent cities of Magna Graecia did not form part of the Hellenistic domains and had, by this time, been
eclipsed in power by the Hellenistic kingdoms of the east. They also remained independent at a time when the
Mediterranean was increasingly dominated by 'great powers'. This, and their proximity to Rome, had made them
easy and obvious targets. *Conversely, the major Hellenistic realms were not in the immediate Roman sphere of
influence, and were powerful enough to deter Roman aggression. The events which, in retrospect, marked the
beginning of the end for the Hellenistic kingdoms could have been avoided; even if it seems likely that a collision
between them and Rome would have ultimately occurred. -- **Roman entanglement in the Balkans began, as so
often, with trade. Illyrian piratical raids on Roman merchants twice led to a Roman task force invading Illyria (the
First and, Second Illyrian Wars). Tension between Macedon and Rome increased when the young king of Macedon,
Philip V harboured one of the chief pirates, Demetrius of Pharos (a former client of Rome). As a result, in an
attempt to reduce Roman influence in the Balkans, Philip allied himself with Carthage after Hannibal had dealt the
Romans a massive defeat at the Battle of Cannae (216 BC) during the Second Punic War. Forcing the Romans to
fight on another front when they were at a nadir of manpower gained Philip the lasting enmity of the Romans; the
only real result from the somewhat insubstantial First Macedonian War (215-202 BC). -- Once the Second Punic
War had been resolved, and the Romans had begun to regather their strength, they looked to re-assert their
influence in the Balkans, and to curb the expansion of Philip. A pretext for war was provided by Philip's refusal to
end his war with Attalid Pergamum, and Rhodes, both Roman allies. The Romans, also allied with the Aetolian
League of Greek city-states (which resented Philip's power), thus declared war on Macedon in 200 BC, starting the
Second Macedonian War. This ended with a decisive Roman victory at the Battle of Cynoscephalae (197 BC).
**Like most Roman peace treaties of the period, the resultant 'Peace of Flaminius' [Proconsul Titus Quinctius
Flaminius] was designed to utterly crush the power of the defeated party; a massive indemnity was levied, Philip's
fleet was surrendered to Rome, and Macedon was effectively returned to its ancient boundaries, losing influence
over the city-states of southern Greece, and land in Thrace and Asia Minor. The result was the end of Macedon as a
major power in the Mediterranean. -- As a result of the confusion in Greece at the end of the Second Macedonian
War, the Seleucid Empire also became entangled with the Romans. The Seleucid Antiochus III had allied with
Philip V of Macedon in 203 BC, agreeing that they should jointly conquer the lands of the boy-king of Egypt,
Ptolemy V. After defeating Ptolemy in the Fifth Syrian War, Antiochus concentrated on occupying the Ptolemaic
possessions in Asia Minor. However, this brought Antiochus into conflict with Rhodes and Pergamum, two
important Roman allies, and began a 'cold-war' between Rome and Antiochus (not helped by the presence of
Hannibal at the Seleucid court). Meanwhile, in mainland Greece, the Aetolian League, which had sided with Rome
against Macedon, now grew to resent the Roman presence in Greece. This presented Antiochus III with a pretext to
invade Greece and 'liberate' it from Roman influence, thus starting the Roman-Syrian War (192-188 BC). Another
decisive Roman victory at the Battle of Magnesia (190 BC) saw the defeat of Antiochus. Another crippling treaty
followed, with Seleucid possessions in Asia Minor removed and given to Rhodes and Pergamum, the size of the
Seleucid navy reduced, and a massive war indemnity invoked. -- Thus, in less than twenty years, Rome had
destroyed the power of one of the successor states, crippled another, and firmly entrenched its influence over
Greece. This was primarily a result of the over-ambition of the Macedonian kings, and their unintended provocation
of Rome; though Rome was quick to exploit the situation. In another twenty years, the Macedonian kingdom was no
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