The Conquerors

The Macedonians

Alexander in Persia, 334-331 BC

In the Spring of 334 B.C., young king Alexander of Macedon with an army 40,000 strong, set out to fulfill the centuries old dream of his countrymen by launching the invasion of the Persian Empire, the largest and most powerful empire in the Mediterranean world.

The Romans

Mediterranean Expansion, 200-189 BC

A century and a half later, the Roman Republic was just emerging from its 2nd and most debilitating conflict with the Mediterranean trading power —Carthage. Philip V was on the throne of Macedon, and his interventions in Greek politics would soon draw Rome’s response and eventual advance to become an Eastern Mediterranean power.

Even after several years of conflict with Philip, Rome would not rest. Rome found herself again involved in an immense conflict—this time in Asia. The great Seleucid King, Antiochus, threatened the very existence of Rome’s two key allies—Rhodes and Pergamum—and threatened to march into Europe itself on a mission of conquest. Thus began the Syrian War.