How many years were the Romans armies defeating large parts of the anicent world?

Answer 1

Rome expanded into central and southern Italy as a result of the three Samnite Wars between 343 BC and 290 BC and the Pyrrhic War (280-375 BC). She gained control of the western Mediterranean as a result of the three Punic Wars which spanned from 264 BC to 146 BC. Between 146 BC and 63 BC she gained control of the whole Mediterranean except for Egypt and eastern Libya. Gaul was conquered in the Gallic Wars (58-50 BC). Under Augustus there was an expansionist drive from 27 BC to 9 AD. Claudius conquered southern England in 43 AD and Vespasian had northern England conquered in 78 AD. The last expansionist drive was under Trajan who conquered Dacia (Romania and Moldova) annexed Nabataea (in Jordan) and the northern part of the Red Sea Coast of Saudi Arabia and conquered Iraq. The Roman Empire reached its greatest extent in 116 AD, one year before Trajan's death. Marcus Aurelius fought wars against the Marcomanni and Quadi of Bohemia (Czech Republic) who were attacking the empire between 166 AD and 180 AD. When he defeated them he undertook the conquest of Bohemia, but he died before he accomplished this. This makes 523 years Of wars of expansion. In the next 225 years Rome defeated other peoples in battles. However, these were defensive battles as the empire came under increased attacks, instead of wars of conquest.