157- 86 BCE - Despite being an outsider, Marius became consul in 107 BCE. Marius' focus was on ending the Roman war in North Africa against Jugurtha and the Numidians. The plebian assembly voted to give Marius command of the army in Africa usurping the right of the Senate to control …

246- 183 BCE - Hannibal Barca was a Carthaginian general who was sworn to hatred of Rome by his father, Hamilcar Barca. Hannibal lead Carthage in several successful battles against Rome in the Punic Wars. Hannibal marched across the Alps with a significant army built of Spanish natives, however there were …

234 - 149 BCE- Cato the Elder was a Roman praetor, and consul who became a censor, or census taker, in 184 BCE. Cato was against the Roman movement to incorporate Greek culture and education. Cato famously claimed that it was cheaper to work slaves to death, rather than treat them …

287 - 212 BCE- Archimedes is one of the most famous scientists of all time. Archimedes was a native of Syracuse. He is renowned for many inventions and contributions. His contributions include work on the geometry of spheres and cylinders, a value for the constant pi, the concept of specific gravity …

310- 230 BCE - A Greek astronomer who is known to have developed a heliocentric view of the universe. Aristarchus of Samos believed that the Sun and stars were 'fixed' in the heavens, while the Earth rotated around the Sun in a circular orbit. Aristarchus also believed that the Earth revolved …

203- 120 BCE - Polybius was the central historian of the Hellenistic period. Polybius was Greek, however he lived in Rome for a time. He wrote a detailed history of the "inhabited Mediterranean world" from 221 to 146 BCE.

His history focuses on the growth of Rome and the achievements of …