The Third Punic War came to an end in 146 BCE, with the total destruction of Carthage. The Roman Republic, sensing the opportunity for hegemony in the Mediterranean, swiftly turned their attentions to Greece and, within a few short months, provoked a conflict with the Achaean League and conquered Greece.

In the First Punic War, Rome took control of Carthaginian territory on the island of Sicily. In the Second Punic War, Rome took control of Carthaginian territory in the Iberian Peninsula and southern Europe. In the Third Punic War, Rome took control of the rest of Carthaginian territory and destroyed the city of Carthage.

The Battle of Alesia was fought in 52 BC between the forces of Julius Caesar and a large conglomeration of Gallic tribes under the leadership of the Gaul Vercingetorix. Vercingetorix was paraded through the streets of Rome, spent five years in prison, and was then executed by strangulation.

The battle was won by Julius Caesar, and was a tremendous success for him both politically and militarily. This basically marked the end of Caesar's Gallic conquests and allowed him to return to Rome in a time of great political tension. His return to Rome by crossing the Rubicon precipitated the start of the Roman Civil War, which would ultimately be resolved in Caesar's favor.

The Wars of the Second Triumvirate broke out in the wake of the assassination of Julius Caesar. They were fought between an alliance of Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus and the forces loyal to Brutus and Cassius. Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus claimed they were avenging the murder of Julius Caesar, and perhaps that is partially true, but they were really fighting to consolidate their own political power.

Vercingetorix was the leader of the Gauls during the waning years of the Gallic Wars. He was decisively defeated at the Battle of Alesia. Vercingetorix was captured and imprisoned for five years before eventually being paraded through the city of Rome in chains and then strangled on Caesar’s orders.

Prior to the Gallic Wars, the people of mainland Italy and the city of Rome were under constant threat of barbarian invasions from Gaul. The conquest of Gaul was therefore of immense significance to the Roman people, because it offered them protection and peace of mind. For this reason, Caesar’s conquest of Gaul made him especially popular with the Roman people.

Octavian was born Gaius Octavius, a member of a lesser noble Roman family, and great-nephew to Julius Caesar. He was eventually adopted by Julius Caesar and proclaimed heir to Caesar’s personal fortune and political power. When Caesar died, Octavian took control of his army and also took his name. After a protracted civil war with Mark Antony, Octavian solidified power and became the first Roman Emperor — Augustus Caesar.

The Wars of the Second Triumvirate consolidated the power of Mark Antony, Marcus Lepidus, and Octavian. In the wake of Julius Caesar’s murder, many different individuals controlled different areas of the Roman Republic. Notably, Brutus and Cassius controlled the eastern portion of Roman territory. Octavian, Lepidus, and Mark Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius and consolidated their control over the Roman Republic. The wars also witnessed Octavian taking considerable amounts of political power from Marcus Lepidus, who was gradually outmaneuvered by the young upstart.

Julius Caesar rose to prominence in the Roman Republic through his conquest of Gaul. After Caesar finished the conquest of Gaul in 50 BCE, he was declared proconsul (governor) of the newly acquired territory. This gave him immense political power and led him to eventually seize power in the city of Rome itself.

The hastati were frontline, inexperienced infantry troops who led the first charge into battle and were expected to hold the line. If the hastati tired or were struggling to hold the line, they would be reinforced by the more experienced principes. The principes were relatively wealthy Roman soldiers who could afford high quality armor and who were well-trained. In the event that the principes were also unable to hold the line, they would be reinforced by the most experienced members of the Roman army — the triarii.