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Rome felt threatened by enemies from every direction, and in meeting these threats embarked on a course of military expansion. They faced the Estruscans to the north, and the Sabines, Volscians and Aequi to the east and south. Alongside these opponents, the Romans faced Greek communities founded in southern Italy. By 264 B.C.E, the Romans had conquered all of Italy.
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After their conquest of the Italian peninsula, the Romans found themselves face to face with the Mediterranean power, Carthage.
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The struggle began when the Romans decided to intervene in a struggle between two Sicilian Cities and sent an army tp Carthage owned, Sicily. This sparked the conquest of Sicily, and after 23 years of fighting, the Romans defeated the Carthaginians. Through this victory, the Romans laid control to all of Sicily, as well as, the islands of Sardinia and Corsica.
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In 218, Hannibal crossed the Alps into mainland Italy, with 40,000 soldiers, 6,000 horses and war elephants.
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The Second Punic War began in 218 BCE, when Rome provoked Hannibal to attack the city of Saguntum.
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The Romans decided to meet Hannibal in a head on battle at the battle of Cannae. Although the treacherous march through the Alps took a toll on the Carthaginian forces, Hannibal was able to add thousands Gauls to his ranks. In this battle, Hannibal's forces devastated a Roman army, killing as many as 40,000 soldiers.
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Although losing a decisive battle at Cannae, Rome was able to bounce back and reconquered rebellious Italian cities that joined Hannibal's ranks. Furthermore, the Romans gave General Scipio Africanus full control of the Roman forces in Spain. By 206 BCE, Scipio pushed Carthage out of Spain.
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Following Rome's conquest of Spain, they continued towards Carthage. Scipio led an army from Sicily into North Africa and forced Hannibal to return from Italy. At the Battle of Zama in 202 B.C.E., Scipio defeated Hannibal and the Second Punic War was over.
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Following the end of Rome's war with Carthage, Hannibal fled and ultimately committed suicide. The peace treaty was signed in 201 by Carthaginians and Romans, Carthage lost Spain, and promised not to go to war without Rome's permission.
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Carthage eventually broke their peace treaty with Rome by going to war against one of Rome's African allies.
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Led by Scipio Aemilianus Africanus the Younger, Roman forces undertook their third and last war with Carthage. In 146, Rome sacked the city of Carthage, and marked the end of a once great empire.
