Roman Imperialism under the Republic Quiz

Answer: First Punic War

It was indeed in the First Punic War (264-241BC) that Roman soldiers first fought overseas. Depending on how your describe 'overseas' this would either be their invasion of Sicily or Regulus' assault on North Africa in 256-5 BC.

Answer: Teuta

Queen Teuta did not last long against Roman arms, though it must be remembered that at this point Rome was far from being the world power it would become. Rome did not annex Illyria though it was clear that it was now considered part of the Roman sphere of influence.

Answer: Polybius

Polybius (c. 200-118 BC) was a contemporary or near contemporary of many of the events he described. He was for instance a friend of Scipio Aemilianus, the man who razed Carthage to the ground.

Answer: Philip V

Philip V was engaged in war with Rome due to the aggressive anti-Roman alliance he had formed with Hannibal during the Second Punic War.Philip V was to be involved in one more conflict with Rome in 200-196 BC in which he would again be defeated allowing Flaminius to declare 'freedom' for the Greeks.

Answer: Corinth

The city is said to have been ravaged due to the revolt of Achaea against Rome. It was an example to all of Greece and proof that Rome now expected unquestioning obedience from the Hellenistic world.

Answer: Cato the Elder

Cato is said to have formed the opinion of Carthage's continuing danger to Rome from an embassy he undertook there. His pressure for Carthage's destruction helped lead to the Third Punic War (149-146 BC).

Answer: Pydna

This battle, fought in 168 BC, was a great victory for Rome. Lucius Aemilius Paullus crushed the Macedonians who are reputed to have lost 20,000 men to the Roman's 100 (Errington).

Answer: Attalus III

Attalus III left Pergamum to Rome, this bequest came at a most fortuitous moment for the tribune Tiberius Gracchus who used it in order to pay for his land reform scheme. The bequest was not without problems though as it led to a rebellion led by Aristonicus - a rebellion that was only finally put down in 129 BC.

Answer: Macedonicus

Aemilius Paullus was the victor at the already mentioned battle of Pydna in 168 BC. His father was one of the consuls in command of the army defeated by Hannibal at Cannae in 216 BC.

Answer: They had caused discontent with the levy for Spain

The long wars in Spain had been dragging on for many years. They were not seen as a lucrative proposition for those involved and the consuls thus had to press hard to get people involved, and this resulted in their imprisonment - not an unprecedented act as it had occurred before in 151 BC, but it was still highly seditious.

Answer: Lex Gabinia

The law famously gave Pompey unprecedented powers to crush the pirates. He was given imperium ad infinitum for three years and 120,000 troops. He was of course succesful in a very short space of time.

Answer: Marius

According to Sallust the war against the Numidian King Jugurtha had been prolonged by the avarice and greed of certain senators who had been bribed into allowing him to go unpunished. Eventually Marius was sent and, with the help of his soon to be famous second in command Sulla, made short work of the African.

Answer: 3

Mithridates VI of Pontus was to be a continual thorn in Rome's side until his death in 63 BC. Some of Rome's greatest generals were sent against him: Sulla, Pompey and Lucullus. He was continually defeated but allowed to survive; in Sulla's (First Mithridatic War) case events in Rome meant he could not press for a hard peace.

Answer: 55 BC

Caesar again invaded Britain in the following year 54 BC he did not manage to conquer the country in any meaningful way, though; it was merely a demonstration of Rome's power. Gaius considered an expedition against Britain during the principate but it fell to Claudius in 43-44 AD to bring the island under Roman rule.

Answer: Crassus

Crassus was heavily defeated in his attempt to gain military glory against the Parthians. Not only did he lose legionary standards he also lost his life; killed in a trap set by the Parthian leader: Suren. The standards were not recovered till 20 AD by Tiberius Caesar.