This week's main article features Mithridates of Pontus, in Asia Minor. The Romans fought 3 wars against this Asian enemy of Rome, just as they had earlier with their African enemy, Carthage. Mithridates never invaded Rome. He was a nuisance more than a danger. The same can not be said of Hannibal.

Hannibal, the military leader of the Carthaginians in the second Punic War, struck fear in the hearts of the Romans. Unlike the Roman wars with Mithridates, which were on foreign soil, the Carthaginian leader brought the fight to their native soil. Hannibal is most famous for marching war elephants across the Alps from Spain into Italy. The Second Punic War is often referred to by the name of this amazing general, the Hannibalic War.

Find out more in: Hannibal

• Map of the areas controlled by Greece and Carthage in about 500 B.C.
• Economy of the Punic Empire
• The Ancient View of Africa