Timeline of Rome

Rome in the 3rd Century BC – Hannibal and the Punic Wars

Spanning from the last of the Samnite Wars to Hannibal’s legendary invasion in the Second Punic War, the years 300–202 BC mark a transformative era in Roman history. Rome consolidated control across the Italian peninsula, defeated King Pyrrhus of Epirus, and established its first overseas provinces in Sicily and Sardinia. Meanwhile, Carthage emerged as a formidable rival, culminating in the massive conflicts of the First and Second Punic Wars. By the time Scipio Africanus triumphed at Zama in 202 BC, Rome had risen from a dominant Italian power to the unchallenged master of much of the western Mediterranean world.

Overview

  • 3rd Century BC
    • Leonidas of Tarentum flourishes. He composed over 100 epigrams (found in the Greek Anthology).
    • Pompeii is founded by the Samnites (traditionally sometime in the 6th or 5th century BC, but Samnite control becomes especially strong by the 4th–3rd centuries).
    • Leonidas of Tarentum places us in roughly the late 3rd century BC for his period of greatest activity.

300–290 BC: The Third Samnite War Begins

300 BC

  • 120th Olympiad.
  • Rhegium is captured by Syracuse.
  • Approximate eruptions:
    • Roccamonfina (ca. 50 km north of Naples) has its last known eruption.
    • Vulcano island in the Aeolian archipelago also erupts around this time.

299 BC

  • Samnite–Lucanian tensions & Roman Intervention
    • Lucanians complain in Rome that the Samnites want them to break with Rome; the Samnites invade Lucania.
    • The Lucanians refuse to betray their alliance with Rome; they offer hostages to prove loyalty.
    • Rome sends ambassadors to the Samnites, ordering withdrawal from Lucania. Samnites threaten the envoys.
    • Rome declares war: The Third Samnite War begins (the final major Samnite–Roman conflict).
  • Agathocles of Syracuse occupies Corcyra (Corfu) in the Adriatic.
  • First professional barbers in Rome arrive from Sicily (a traditional anecdote, typically dated to the end of the 4th or start of the 3rd century BC).

298 BC

  • Roman campaign vs. Samnites
    • Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus drives Samnites out of Lucania.
    • Romans capture Taurasia, Bovianum Vetus, Aufidena (centers of the Caraceni branch of the Samnites).
    • Latin colony established at Carseoli.
    • New treaty between Rome and the Lucani.

296 BC

  • 121st Olympiad.
  • Minturnae and Sinuessa receive full Roman citizenship (alt. date 295 BC).
  • A pestilence afflicts Rome.

295 BC

  • Battle of Camerinum: Romans under Scipio Barbatus are defeated by Gauls & Samnites.
  • Battle of Sentinum: Key victory for Rome over a coalition of Samnites, Gauls (Senones), and Etruscans. The Samnite leader Gellius Egnatius is killed.
  • Agathocles of Syracuse captures Croton; cedes Corcyra to Pyrrhus of Epirus.

294 BC

  • Battle of Lucera: Samnites defeat the Romans.
  • The Etruscans end their alliance with the Samnites and make peace with Rome.

293 BC

  • Battle of Aquilonia: Romans again defeat the Samnites.
  • Romans capture Amiternum.

292 BC

  • 122nd Olympiad.
  • Romans suppress a rebellion at Falerii.

291 BC

  • Romans capture Venusia (mod. Venosa), near Lucania; establish a Roman colony there.
  • Pestilence strikes Rome.

290 BC

  • Manius Curius Dentatus captures Interamna Praetutiorum (mod. Teramo), grants it municipium status.
  • Romans capture Adria (mod. Atri).
  • End of the Third Samnite War:
    • Peace treaty with Samnites.
    • Sabines surrender and receive civitas sine suffragio.

289 BC

  • Death of Agathocles (tyrant of Syracuse). Uncertain circumstances (possibly assassination or jaw cancer).
  • Agathocles’ widow and children find sanctuary in Egypt.

288 BC

  • 123rd Olympiad.
  • Mamertines (Campanian mercenaries formerly under Agathocles) seize Messene by treachery, killing the men and taking the women as wives.

287 BC

  • (Approx.) Archimedes is born at Syracuse, son of the astronomer Phidias. Later studies in Alexandria and returns to Syracuse, associated with Hieron II’s court.

286 BC

  • Phintias becomes tyrant at Akragas.

285 BC

  • Thurii attacked by the Bruttians.
  • Rhinton of Syracuse (dramatist) dies at Tarentum.

284 BC

  • 124th Olympiad.
  • (Approx.) Livius Andronicus is born at Tarentum. He will found Roman drama by adapting Greek works into Latin.

282–272 BC: Rome vs. Tarentum & Pyrrhus (Pyrrhic War)

282 BC

  • Rome founds a colony at Adria.
  • Rome sends a garrison to Rhegium (some sources place this in 280 BC).
  • Roman–Tarentine Conflict begins:
    • Thurii, a Tarentine colony, asks Rome (rather than Tarentum) for help vs. Lucanians.
    • Rome and Taras had an agreement that Rome would not sail into the Gulf of Taranto.
    • A storm drives 10 Roman ships into the port of Taras during the festival of Dionysus.
    • The Tarentines sink or capture several Roman ships, outraged at the treaty violation.
  • Tarentines appeal to Pyrrhus of Epirus for help. Pyrrhus sees Italy/Sicily as stepping stones to bigger conquests (ultimately Macedonia).

281 BC

  • Roman army under Emilius Barbula invades Tarentine territory, captures & plunders Taras.
  • Tarentines get Samnite & Sallentinian reinforcements but are defeated.
  • Meanwhile, a Tarentine delegation fails to achieve peace before 3,000 Epirotes under Milon arrive, forcing the Romans out of Taras.

280 BC

  • 125th Olympiad.
  • First Roman coins minted (according to later Roman tradition).
  • Pyrrhus arrives at Taras with 23,000 troops (infantry, cavalry, elephants).
  • Battle of Heraclea: Pyrrhus defeats Rome under Valerius Laevinus. Both sides suffer heavy casualties, but Rome can replenish faster.
  • Pyrrhus marches toward Rome hoping for Italian allies to defect; they do not. Pyrrhus withdraws to Apulia.
  • Neapolis remains loyal to Rome; Pyrrhus fails to take it.
  • Phintias of Akragas moves Geloans to his newly founded city Phintias (Licata).

279 BC

  • Battle of Asculum: Pyrrhus wins (some sources say it was more of a draw), but again at high cost: a “Pyrrhic victory.”
  • Greek Sicilian cities invite Pyrrhus to come help against Carthage and the Mamertines.
  • Rome and Carthage sign a defensive treaty vs. Pyrrhus.

278 BC

  • Pyrrhus leaves Taras garrisoned by his son Alexander and sails to Sicily.
  • Arrives at Tauromenion, allies with tyrant Tyndarion, then welcomed at Catana.
  • Pyrrhus proclaims himself King of Sicily, planning eventually to install Alexander as Sicilian king.
  • Treaty between Rome and Heraclea (alt. 282 BC).

277 BC

  • Pyrrhus marches across Greek Sicily:
    • Takes Syracuse and Leontini;
    • Akragas expels its Carthaginian garrison, Pyrrhus arrives unopposed;
    • Garrison placed in Akragas;
    • Pyrrhus then seizes Henna, Selinus, Heracleia, Segesta, Eryx, Panormus, Herkte.
    • Carthage retains only Lilybaeum. Pyrrhus besieges it.
  • Croton submits to Rome; the Romans occupy Bruttium.

276 BC

  • 126th Olympiad.
  • Pyrrhus abandons Sicily, returns to Taras, resumes war with Rome.

275 BC

  • Hieron II seizes power in Syracuse.
  • Rome captures Barium (Bari).
  • Battle of Beneventum: Pyrrhus is defeated by M’. Curius Dentatus.
  • End of the Pyrrhic War: Pyrrhus withdraws from Italy, leaving only ~8,500 survivors of his original force.
  • Pyrrhus continues campaigning in Greece until his death in Argos in 272 BC.

273 BC

  • Romans establish a Latin colony at Poseidonia/Paestum (though numismatic evidence suggests the name “Paistano” existed earlier).

272 BC

  • 127th Olympiad.
  • Anio Vetus (Rome’s second aqueduct) is constructed.
  • Romans ally with Velia, Heraclea, Thurii, Metapontum, removing them from Tarentine influence.
  • Rome captures Tarentum fully, defeating the Epirote garrison. Tarentum’s walls razed, effectively ending major Greek resistance in Magna Graecia.
  • Samnites, Lucanians, Bruttians are finally subdued.
  • Livius Andronicus is brought to Rome as a prisoner.
  • A pestilence again afflicts Rome.

270–265 BC: Consolidation of Southern Italy, Prelude to the First Punic War

270 BC

  • Hieron II becomes king in Syracuse. He begins building an army to fight the Mamertines.
  • Theocritus arrives at Hieron’s court.
  • Rome goes to war with Umbrians, Picentes, Sallentini.
  • Romans capture Rhegium from rebellious Campanian mercenaries.
  • Naevius (poet) is born at Capua.

269 BC

  • The Picentes revolt.
  • Altar of Hieron II built in Syracuse.
  • Hieron defeats the Mamertines at the River Longanus.

268 BC

  • 128th Olympiad.
  • Sabines receive full Roman citizenship.
  • Romans crush the Picentes; Asculum Picenum gets a treaty, the rest get “Latin Rights.” Some are resettled in Campania (Picentia).
  • Latin colony at Maleventum. Renamed Beneventum for good omen.

267 BC

  • Romans capture Brentesion (Brindisi), develop it as the main port for trade with the East.

266 BC

  • Alliances formed with the last independent Apulians and Messapians; Rome completes conquest of southern Italy.

265 BC

  • Hieron II besieges the Mamertines in Messana. Carthage sends a fleet to help the Mamertines, occupies the city, forces Hieron to withdraw.
  • The Mamertines soon resent Carthaginian control and appeal to Rome.
  • Archimedes is credited with developing the screw-pump and law of specific gravity around this time.

264–241 BC: The First Punic War

264 BC

  • 129th Olympiad.
  • First Punic War (the “Sicilian War”) begins:
    • Roman Consul Appius Claudius Caudex crosses to Messana with 2 legions, expels Carthaginian garrison.
    • Alarmed, Hieron II allies briefly with Carthage vs. Rome.
  • Latin colony at Aesernia (Isernia).
  • The ager Romanus (Roman territory) measures ~23,226 km² at this time.

263 BC

  • Rome sends ~40,000 troops to Sicily under both consuls.
  • Siege of Syracuse. Hieron II switches sides to Rome, ends alliance with Carthage, proving a loyal ally thereafter.
  • Romans receive a sundial from Catane (though an older sundial existed at Rome since ~293 BC).
  • Adranon (Adrano) is conquered and subject to tribute.
  • Control of Netum (Noto Antica) is given to Hieron II.
  • Morgantina comes under Roman control.

262 BC

  • Akragas (Agrigentum), the second-power city in Sicily after Syracuse, is besieged by Rome.
  • Carthaginian commander Hannibal defends Akragas.
  • Rome begins building a stronger fleet to challenge Carthaginian sea power.

261 BC

  • Hannibal abandons Akragas by night; Romans occupy and enslave much of the population.
  • Romans push Carthaginians on land; Carthage still dominates at sea.
  • Rome constructs a fleet of 160 ships, aided by Greek shipbuilders in southern Italy.

260 BC

  • Segesta surrenders to Rome and is favored for its (legendary) Trojan origins.
  • Roman consul Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio (“Asina”) is captured in an ill-advised attack on the Lipari Islands.
  • Battle of Mylae: A Roman fleet under Gaius Duillius wins Rome’s first naval victory over Carthage.
  • Carthaginians seize Drepanon (Trapani) and make it a naval base.

259 BC

  • Roman consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio attacks Carthage’s holdings in Corsica & Sardinia; Corsica is taken, Sardinia not yet.

258 BC

  • Romans capture Kamarina.
  • They also take Henna (Enna).
  • Other Roman operations target Carthaginian forces on Sardinia/Corsica.

257 BC

  • Roman consul Gaius Atilius Regulus defeats the Carthaginians near Tyndaris, raids Malta.

256 BC

  • 131st Olympiad.
  • Battle of Ecnomus: largest naval engagement of antiquity. Roman fleet (~330 ships) vs. Carthaginian (~350 ships) near southern Sicily. Rome is victorious.
  • Invasion of Africa: Roman consuls Manlius Vulso and Marcus Atilius Regulus sail to North Africa. Vulso soon returns to Sicily, leaving Regulus with two legions.
  • Regulus defeats Carthaginians near Adys, captures Tunis.
  • Carthage sues for peace but Regulus demands harsh terms; Carthage refuses.

255 BC

  • Reversal for Regulus: He is defeated near Tunis by Carthage’s Spartan mercenary Xanthippus; Regulus is captured.
  • Roman relief fleet rescues survivors but is largely wrecked by storms off Camarina.
  • Carthage retakes Akragas, sacking it.

254 BC

  • Romans capture Drepanon (Trapani).
  • Hasdrubal arrives in Sicily to command Carthaginian forces.
  • Romans land 4 legions under Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio.
  • Romans seize Panormus (Palermo) and Kephaloidion (Cefalù).

253–252 BC

  • Romans continue smaller-scale fighting in Sicily.
  • They capture Lipara (alt. date 251) and Thermae.
  • Rome carries out inconclusive raids on Africa, sometimes suffering storm losses.

251–250 BC

  • (Possibly around 251 BC) Romans found Metheola (Matera) in Lucania.
  • 250 BC:
    • Carthaginians attempt to retake Panormus; they are defeated by L. Manlius Vulso.
    • Carthaginians lose their elephants.
    • Romans besiege Lilybaeum, Carthage’s main Sicilian stronghold.
    • A Rhodian blockade-runner helps Lilybaeum hold out.
    • Minor eruption on Ischia.
    • Timaeus of Tauromenium (historian) dies in Syracuse.

249 BC

  • Roman consul P. Claudius Pulcher is defeated at Drepana—he loses 93 ships.
  • Another Roman consul, L. Junius Pullus, loses most of his fleet in storms off Camarina, while Carthaginians evade disaster.
  • Roman operations are hamstrung by repeated naval misfortunes.

248–244 BC

  • 133rd–134th Olympiads.
  • Romans keep up the sieges of Lilybaeum and Drepana, while Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca arrives (247 or 248) and raids from Mt. Herkte (near Panormus).
  • Hamilcar Barca establishes a new base on Monte Eryx.
  • Hannibal Barca (his eldest son) is born around 247 BC.

243–242 BC

  • Romans capture Lilybaeum (242 BC). Consul C. Lutatius Catulus is wounded at Drepana.
  • Carthaginians hold out at Drepana and Eryx but are increasingly weakened.
  • Rome, using private loans, builds a final fleet of ~200 ships.

241 BC

  • Battle of the Aegates Islands (March 10):
    • Roman fleet (C. Lutatius Catulus) decisively defeats Carthaginian fleet (Hanno), capturing ~70 ships.
    • Carthage can no longer supply Lilybaeum & Drepana.
  • Peace Treaty ends the First Punic War:
    • Sicily becomes Rome’s first province; Hieron’s Syracuse remains autonomous but allied to Rome.
    • Carthage pays a large indemnity, loses all Sicilian possessions.
  • Latin colony at Spoletium (Spoleto).
  • Aftermath: Carthage, nearly bankrupt, faces a mercenary revolt in Africa. Rome exploits Carthage’s weakness to seize Sardinia (238 BC), soon making it a second province.

240–218 BC: Cultural Developments & Prelude to the Second Punic War

240 BC

  • 135th Olympiad.
  • Livius Andronicus stages his first play in Rome—beginning of formal Latin drama.
  • Lex Hieronica lists 34 Sicilian tributary cities (framework of Sicilian taxation).

239 BC

  • Quintus Ennius is born at Rudiae (Apulia). He will become the “Father of Roman Poetry.”

238 BC

  • Rome seizes Sardinia and Corsica, establishing its second province outside Italy (after Sicily).

227 BC

  • Number of Roman praetors raised to four, to govern Sicily and Sardinia.

220 BC

  • 140th Olympiad.
  • (Approx.) Birth of Marcus Pacuvius (poet & painter) at Brundisium, nephew of Ennius.

218–202 BC: The Second Punic War

218 BC

  • Hannibal Barca marches from Iberia over the Alps into northern Italy (May–November).
  • Defeats two Roman armies:
    • Scipio at Ticinus;
    • Sempronius Longus at Trebia.
  • Carthaginian fleet is defeated west of Sicily.
  • Carthaginian-held Malta is seized by Rome.
  • Hannibal captures Barium (Bari) in Apulia, garrisons it.

217 BC

  • Hannibal defeats Flaminius at Lake Trasimene.
  • Romans under Fabius Cunctator take Casilinum.
  • Eruption of Vesuvius (217–216 BC).
  • Romans again capture Pantelleria (held by Carthage).

216 BC

  • 141st Olympiad.
  • Hannibal moves south, seeking allies among Rome’s Italian or Greek subjects.
  • Aug 2, Battle of Cannae:
    • ~40,000 Carthaginians vs. ~70,000 Romans (consuls L. Aemilius Paullus, G. Terentius Varro).
    • Rome suffers ~50,000 dead, ~10,000 captured.
  • First battle of Nola: Roman forces under Marcellus stop Hannibal from taking the city.
  • Some cities defect to Hannibal, including Capua, which becomes his winter base, and Metapontum, though the Romans garrison it.
  • Hannibal sacks Nuceria Alfaterna (Nocera), destroys Cisturninum (Cisternino), burns Acerrae, and captures Argos Hippion (Arpi).

215 BC

  • Hannibal captures Casilinum.
  • Second battle of Nola: Hannibal is again repulsed by Marcellus.
  • Roman victory: Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus defeats Hanno near Beneventum.
  • Hieron II of Syracuse dies; succeeded by Hieronymus, who breaks with Rome and allies with Carthage.
  • Hieronymus is assassinated in Leontini.
  • Revolt in Sardinia threatens Rome’s grain supply; is suppressed.
  • Eruption on Vulcano island.

214 BC

  • Morgantina and others in Sicily rebel in favor of Carthage.
  • Romans retake Casilinum as a staging point to besiege Capua.
  • Third battle of Nola: Hannibal again fails to take the city.
  • Romans under Fabius Maximus capture Aecae (Troia).
  • Henna is devastated by Romans to thwart its rebellion (213 BC is also cited).
  • Megara Hyblaea taken by Romans.
  • Leontini captured and sacked.
  • Romans under Marcellus begin the siege of Syracuse (to 212 BC).

213 BC

  • Fabius recovers Arpi in Apulia for Rome.
  • Romans remain stuck in a protracted siege at Syracuse.

212 BC

  • Tarentum occupied by Hannibal; Romans keep the citadel.
  • Hannibal also takes Heraclea.
  • Romans take Tauromenium.
  • Fall of Syracuse: Romans storm the city; Archimedes is killed by a Roman soldier despite orders for his safety.
  • Romans besiege Capua; Hannibal briefly relieves it but then withdraws, leaving Capua vulnerable.

211 BC

  • Hannibal returns to Capua, tries again to break the Roman siege; fails. Attempts a feint on Rome.
  • Capua eventually surrenders, is harshly punished: many leading citizens killed or enslaved, territory confiscated as ager publicus.
  • Romans capture Morgantina, securing full control of Sicily.

210 BC

  • Carthaginians briefly retake Capua (some sources conflate the final maneuvers, but effectively it remains under Roman control).
  • Romans retake Akragas with Carthaginian mercenary help; rename it Agrigentum.
  • Sicily is formalized as a Roman province, governed by a praetor.
  • Large Roman latifundia begin to grow in Sicily.
  • Eruption on Stromboli.

209 BC

  • Romans under Fabius retake Tarentum.
  • Marcellus defeats Hannibal in a two-day fight at Canusium (Canosa).

208 BC

  • 143rd Olympiad.
  • Hannibal ambushes and kills M. Claudius Marcellus in southern Italy.
  • Hannibal captures and then releases Lucius Cincius Alimentus, who writes an important history afterward.

207 BC

  • Battle of the Metaurus: Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal attempts to reinforce from Spain, but is defeated and killed by the Romans under G. Claudius Nero & M. Livius Salinator.
  • Hannibal retreats into Bruttium, abandoning his garrison at Metapontum but evacuating its population to spare them Roman reprisals; the city, once prosperous, is left diminished.

205 BC

  • Romans retake Croton (some say 204 BC).
  • Titus Quinctius Flamininus becomes propraetor in Tarentum.
  • Portions of Capua’s ager publicus are sold off.

204 BC

  • 144th Olympiad.
  • Carthage’s final relief attempt under Mago fails in northern Italy.
  • Hannibal, low on allies, destroys Thurii as he retreats.
  • Romans take Cosentia (Cosenza), the Bruttian capital.
  • Scipio Africanus invades North Africa, wins a major victory at Bagradas.

203 BC

  • Hannibal destroys Caulonia in Bruttium.
  • Carthage recalls Hannibal from Italy; he departs with the reluctant Bruttian remnants.
  • Scipio gathers a fleet at Lilybaeum for the North Africa campaign.
  • Hannibal lands in Africa, but it is too late for Carthage’s fortunes.

202 BC

  • Romans retake Barium (~203 BC in some accounts).
  • Battle of Zama (Oct 19):
    • Scipio Africanus and Masinissa defeat Hannibal decisively.
    • End of the Second Punic War.
    • Carthage sues for peace; Hannibal’s veterans are largely destroyed.

From this point on, Rome’s position in the western Mediterranean is dominant, and Carthage is left with strict treaty obligations. Although Rome still faces conflicts in northern Italy and with Macedon, the conclusion of the Second Punic War (202 BC) cements its emergence as the region’s preeminent power.


Key Takeaways

  1. Samnite & Pyrrhic Wars (circa 300–272 BC) paved the way for Rome’s domination in Italy.
  2. First Punic War (264–241 BC) gave Rome its earliest overseas province: Sicily (followed by Sardinia/Corsica).
  3. Between the Punic Wars, Rome consolidated its hold on Italy, set up new colonies, and began a more systematic provincial administration.
  4. Second Punic War (218–202 BC) ended with Carthage’s defeat at Zama and firmly established Rome as a paramount Mediterranean power.

This outline should help you keep track of the major developments, battles, and diplomatic shifts that shaped Rome’s trajectory in the first half of the 3rd century BC—leading to its near-complete dominance of peninsular Italy and the western Mediterranean.