THE GREAT WAR BETWEEN ANTIOCHUS AND ROME
The Eagle of Rome was rising, and the Western Mediterranean had already fell to its talons. In the East, however, a man was reforging an empire that are been birthed out of the conquests of Alexander the Great. The Empire was that of the Seleucids, and the man was Antiochus III, as per the Encyclopedia of World History’s article “Antiochus” (“Antiochus”). According to Michael Taylor, author of the book Antiochus the Great, The Eastern Mediterranean had been dominated by the successors of Alexander for over 100 years (Taylor 15). During it, the dominant empire at the time, the Seleucid Empire was severely curtailed by Roman military might (“Antiochus”). The rise of Antiochus III, Emperor of the Seleucids, …show more content…
If the Seleucids wanted to maintain their presence in Greece, or if the Romans wished to invade Asia Minor, they would need ships to transport their troops. According to Maureen Green, a journalist for Smithsonian magazine, the primary warships used by both sides was of a standard that had remained somewhat unchanged from the time of the Ancient Greeks (Green). They were Triremes, galleys with three decks, and were used to great effect due to their maneuverability. They were, however, rather fragile, necessitating that the naval battles be fought on calm seas in order to lessen the risk of capsizing. Therefore, to maintain them, they were stored in sheds that would protect them from the elements (Green). A tactic used by the Greeks is described by Green, “bronze rams or their bows at water level designed to pierce the enemy amidships and then back off, leaving him to sink”. The events that will set the war in motion begin with Antiochus looking at the realm of Philip of Macedon and Greecewith greed (Green). Philip had shown weakness before and under the guise of liberation Antiochus wished to occupy his territories (“Antiochus”). He is given an excuse for invasion when the Aetolian league invites him to help in the liberation of Greece (Taylor 110). Antiochus, with a minimal transport fleet, comes to Greece with 10,000 infantry and 500 cavalry (Taylor 115). The war for Greece, the cultural heart of the Mediterranean, was about to
The Eagle of Rome was rising, and the Western Mediterranean had already fell to its talons. In the East, however, a man was reforging an empire that are been birthed out of the conquests of Alexander the Great. The Empire was that of the Seleucids, and the man was Antiochus III, as per the Encyclopedia of World History’s article “Antiochus” (“Antiochus”). According to Michael Taylor, author of the book Antiochus the Great, The Eastern Mediterranean had been dominated by the successors of Alexander for over 100 years (Taylor 15). During it, the dominant empire at the time, the Seleucid Empire was severely curtailed by Roman military might (“Antiochus”). The rise of Antiochus III, Emperor of the Seleucids, …show more content…
If the Seleucids wanted to maintain their presence in Greece, or if the Romans wished to invade Asia Minor, they would need ships to transport their troops. According to Maureen Green, a journalist for Smithsonian magazine, the primary warships used by both sides was of a standard that had remained somewhat unchanged from the time of the Ancient Greeks (Green). They were Triremes, galleys with three decks, and were used to great effect due to their maneuverability. They were, however, rather fragile, necessitating that the naval battles be fought on calm seas in order to lessen the risk of capsizing. Therefore, to maintain them, they were stored in sheds that would protect them from the elements (Green). A tactic used by the Greeks is described by Green, “bronze rams or their bows at water level designed to pierce the enemy amidships and then back off, leaving him to sink”. The events that will set the war in motion begin with Antiochus looking at the realm of Philip of Macedon and Greecewith greed (Green). Philip had shown weakness before and under the guise of liberation Antiochus wished to occupy his territories (“Antiochus”). He is given an excuse for invasion when the Aetolian league invites him to help in the liberation of Greece (Taylor 110). Antiochus, with a minimal transport fleet, comes to Greece with 10,000 infantry and 500 cavalry (Taylor 115). The war for Greece, the cultural heart of the Mediterranean, was about to