AETOLIAN LEAGUES, the
former including the most of the Peloponnesus, the latter the greater
part of Central Greece.

Ever since the repulse of Pyrrhus, Rome had been slowly drifting into
closer contact with the East. She formed an alliance with Egypt in 273.
From this country had come in part her supply of corn during the Second
Punic War. In 205, Ptolemy V. became king, and, through fear of the
Macedonian and Syrian kings, sought the protection of Rome.

The punishment of the Illyrican pirates in 228 brought Rome into closer
relations with Greece. These connections had been sufficient to open the
Eastern ports to her trade, but her struggle with Carthage had left her
no time or strength to interfere actively in Eastern politics, until she
was forced to take action by the alliance of Philip V. of Macedonia and
Hannibal, and by the former's threatened invasion of Italy in 214. A
small force was sent into Greece, which was soon largely increased by
the dissatisfied subjects of Philip.

The only object of Rome in the First Macedonian War (214-205) was
to prevent Philip from lending aid to Hannibal; and in this she was
partially successful. None of the Macedonian troops entered Italy, but
four thousand of them were at Zama.

The military operations of this war were of slight importance. Marcus
Valerius Laevinus was sent to the Adriatic, and pushed the king so hard
that he was obliged to burn the fleet in which he intended to sail for
Italy. Philip was at this time at war with Aetolia. Laevinus assisted
the Aetolians, and the king was too fully occupied at home to think of
operations farther away. But in 205, the Romans, wishing to concentrate
their energies upon the invasion of Africa, made peace.

Some of Philip's soldiers had been captured at Zama. He demanded their
return. The answer was, that, if he wished war again, he could have it.

There were several other reasons which led to the SECOND MACEDONIAN
WAR (200-197). Philip had agreed with ANTIOCHUS III., king of Syria, to
attempt with him the division of Egypt, since it seemed probable that
the young king, Epiphanes (Ptolemy V.), who was only four years old,
would not be able to make an effectual resistance. The ministers of
Egypt sought the protection of Rome. On their journey, the Roman envoys
sent to assume the office of protectorship remonstrated with Philip.

In Asia Minor Philip had conducted himself with such barbarity that the
people rose against him; a