Rome’s mastery of the Mediterranean

The Roman army was divided into legions: a century (about 80 soldiers), a cohort and a legion of 10 cohorts. Soldiers were well trained, served long, and built roads and forts. By the mid-3rd century BCE Rome had subdued all of Italy. Rivalry with Carthage, a mighty trading state in North Africa, led to the Punic Wars (the Romans called Carthaginians “Poeni”). The First War (264–241 BCE) was fought for Sicily and ended in a Roman victory. In the Second (218–201) the Carthaginian general Hannibal crossed the Alps from Spain into Italy and in 216 BCE heavily defeated the Romans at Cannae. Rome did not surrender; the general Scipio led an expedition to Africa and in 202 BCE beat Hannibal in the battle near Zama. In the Third War (149–146) Carthage was besieged and destroyed in 146 BCE. Conquered lands — provinces (Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Spain) — were governed by proconsuls; a victorious general was welcomed in Rome with a triumph.