200 BC and lasted three years. Philip was defeated in Thessaly.
Greece was not declared free until the year after - 196BC. Antiochus
attacked the roman forces in Greece claiming he was freeing Greece of
the Romans. He was defeated in 189 BC and made to give heavy
penalties to Rome for his actions.
Throughout all of this Rome had not seized control
of any land and had not asked of any rewards from Greece, instead
proclaiming themselves to be protectors of Greece. This view comes
from Polybius 18.44 – 45 in which he says “Romans had originally
crossed the Adriatic not to advance their own interests but to secure the
liberties of the Greeks,” “free the cities which were now garrisoned by
Philip”. It’s from Polybius that we know Flaminius was proconsul. Livy
claimed 7,000 men were killed including C.Ampius who was a prefect of
allies . Rome only intervened in the protection of Greece to protect
themselves as Roman have this paranoia that if an empire grows up, it
will eventually swallow them.
When phillipV died he was succeeded by a man called Perseus in 179BC
He brought about civil unrest in Greece and led to another revolution.
This became the third Macedon. This lasted between 172 and 168 BC,
and instead of Rome leaving the Greek cities, they enforce strict laws over
the inhabitants, still not seizing control over the territory but now they
were spreading Roman civilisation outward. This is what Polybus gives
for Roman control and expansion. He claims that Rome initially began
with the intention to gain a large empire. The nations, which had been
called allies of Rome were now being ruled by Rome in an act of
prevention of any more revolts against Rome. Basically, now Rome was
in control and Greece was defiantly incorporated into the empire. Any
sign of rebellion was quickly squashed.
The Roman Empire was now larger than ever and problems were dealt
with before they arose. No signs of despondency were left and people
started to regard Roman life as superior. I believe the empire had grown
accidentally but was regarded fondly by the senate who were pleased to
say the least. However after the third Macedon war it began to change as
the Romans looted many of the cities that Rome conquered from Persius.
Basically all these states were used to gain money for the rich aristocracy
in Rome. The publicani who were goverers extracted these taxes . This
wealth led to a reawakening of the divisions between the aristocracy and
the plebians.Rome had gained their empire subversely without the Greeks
noticeing. Then the third Punic war began 149BC and lasted until
146BC During this time the fourth Macedonian war began in 148BC
and also a War against a Greek confederacy began all were unhappy with
roman rule ad felt that they could have seen off the roman dictators until
in 146BC The Punic wars ended in the annihilation of Carthage and then
following aRebellion in Greece Corinth was destroyed this lead to no
other resistance For thirteen years and although if enough had rebelled
the roman Occupation would have ceased. However fear of the same fate
as Corinth made the Greeks submissive .the areas of carthage and
Macedonia were then organised into true roman provinces Rome were
undeniably in power.
The Roman dominance over Macedon and Greece, I would atribute to
Flaminius’ vitory over PhilipV in 197BC. After this Greece had no other
strong military leaders, therefore could never separate themselves from
roman rule dispite the number of rebellions and revolutions against
Roman government. Infact, each rebellion after 196BC only served to
stregthen Roman stranglehold on Greece. Basically there was no turning
back after Flaminius’ speech described by Polybius 18.44-45. This ment
Greece was now a Roman province.
