This page cannot be viewed in frames

Go to page

If you have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.

Roman wars

Conquest of Italy by Rome

(5th century - 264 BCE)

Process of conquering the Apennine Peninsula by the expanding city-state of Rome. The Romans finished their conquest of Italy in 264 BCE, after the conquest of Volsini.

Samnite attack on Roman troops

Ancient Romans fights with pirates

(3rd century - 65 BCE)

Piracy was a serious nuisance in ancient times. The pirates from Cilicia, whom Rome declared war on, were particularly infamous. According to Pliny the Elder, the most pirate attacks were in the period from May to September, therefore the safest place for merchant ships, contrary to appearances, was to sail in the winter when the sea was restless.

Roman mosaic showing the trier

Rome’s war with Pyrrhus

(282-272 BCE)

One of the fiercest enemies of the Roman Republic was Pyrrus, king of Epirus. The war against Epirus cost Rome much effort and suffering, and took many lives.

Hastati fighting the elephant Pyrrus

Punic Wars

(264-146 BCE)

Punic Wars were armed conflicts between the Roman Republic and Carthage. Fighting was fought for dominance in the western Mediterranean.

Dido rises Carthage, William Turner

Fighting in Italy 216-203 BCE

(216-203 BCE)

The period from the Battle of Cannae to the evacuation of Hannibal from the Apennine Peninsula is a time of marches and countermarches of Roman and Punic armies, often along the same roads of southern Italy. Both the armies of the Republic and Carthage fought in these areas for the control of key cities such as Nola, Capua, Taranto and Benevento.

Hannibal accepting surrender of Romans

Macedonian wars

(215-168 BCE)

Macedonian wars were fought between the Roman Republic and the Macedonian state for hegemony in the Balkan Peninsula.

Greek phalanx

Wars in Cisalpine Gaul at beginning of 2nd century BCE

(1st half of 2nd century BCE)

Victories of Hannibal and his Gallic allies inspired the younger Gaul generation from above the Po to continue fighting against the Republic, despite Carthaginian defeat in the Second Punic War. This led to a series of fights at the beginning of the 2nd century BCE in Cisalpine Gaul.

Roman sculpture from the 1st century CE showing Galatian killing his wife and himself

Rome’s war against Sparta

(195 BCE)

King of Sparta - Nabis - sought to strengthen the position of Sparta in the Peloponnese. Thanks to effective politics and an enlarged army, he subdued the city of Argos. The Roman Republic, using divisions among Greek cities, decided to intervene.

Greek world before the outbreak of the Second Macedonian War (2nd century  BCE)

Seleucid war with Antiochus III

(192-190 BCE)

Seleucid War with Antiochus III was a clash between the ancient Romans and the Seleucid Empire of Antiochus III for the rule over divided Greece.

Antiochus III the Great

Aetolian War

(191–189 BCE)

After Macedonia's defeat in the Second Macedonian War, the Aetolians entered into a dispute with the Romans because they were not satisfied with the terms of the peace treaty that had been imposed on Macedonia. This led to the Aetolian War.

Map showing Aetolia

Spelling error report

The following text will be sent to our editors: