This TL is only a rough draft. It is also probably the earliest PoD I've ever seen.
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Pax Syracuse
Part I: The Rise of Syracuse
734 BC: The city of Syracuse is established on Sicily. Even though it is a Greek colony, it is a de facto independent nation.
720-700 BC: Syracuse takes control of most of the island of Sicily and parts of southern Italy.
708 BC: The city of Taranto is established by Spartan colonists. Spartan will lose contact with Taranto in 699 because Syracuse seized it. Sparta thinks that it was destroyed by native Italians or by disease.
701 BC: The Judea Revolt against Assyria. Assyria and Judea come to an agreement, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem is founded.
700 BC: The Syracuse Republic is declared in Syracuse. Since most Syracusans are Spartan, the Syracuse adopts a militaristic-style civilization and government.
699 BC: The city of Taranto is sacked and captured by Syracuse. Syracuse adopts Taranto as its main naval base.
694 BC: The Syracuse Republic consists of Sicily and the OTL Calabria region of Italy and Taranto.
691 BC: Elam is able to retain its independence from the Assyrians.
683 BC: Syracuse captures the islands of Oceanus (Malta), increasing size of the Republic. Syracuse becomes rich and prosperous after initial trading with Sparta.
674 BC: Assyria successfully puts down a rebellion in Ashkelon, which was supported by Egypt. Assyria then invades Egypt, but fails.
670 BC: Assyria sacks the northernmost Jerusalem city, Acre. Jerusalem in response, invades Assyria, which is beaten back. Jerusalem is sacked and captured, putting an end to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
668 BC: Assyria invades Egypt for the second time. Assyria successfully takes Lower Egypt, but not Upper.
667 BC: The city of Byzantium is founded.
664 BC: Egyptians rise up against the Assyrians while Upper Egypt invades Lower Egypt. Egypt is reunited as one empire.
661 BC: The final Assyrians are driven out of Egypt, and then most of Judea. The Kingdom of Judea is founded, with its capital in Jerusalem. The king of Judea is also the Duke (or a similar title) of Jerusalem.
657 BC: Syracuse now has complete control of the Gulf of Sicily (Gulf of Taranto).
652 BC: Babylonia rises up against the Assyrians once again, but this time it is unsuccessful.
649 BC: The Babylonian revolt against Assyria is finally crushed. Syracusan traders make contact with Roman traders.
640 BC: The Assyrians and Elam fight to a draw.
634 BC: The city of Cyrene is founded in North Africa by Syracusan naval forces. Cyrene is originally a naval base, but in 604 BC, it will be opened up for use by traders.
625 BC: Syracuse, Egypt, and Judea support another Babylonian revolt. Babylonians declare their independence, and the Neo-Babylonian Empire is formed.
614 BC: Syracuse extends its influence to the island of Sandalyon (Sardinia). Carthaginian and Syracusan traders begin trading with one another.
600’s BC: The Assyrian Empire begins to collapse, and is replaced with Babylon.
600 BC: The Babylonians build the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
598 BC: The Babylonians capture Jerusalem. They replace King Jehoiakim with King Jehoiachin.
588 BC: Jerusalem rises up against their Babylonian-imposed rulers. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon lays siege to the city.
586 BC: Nebuchadnezzar sacks Jerusalem, and destroys the Temple and exiles the cities remaining inhabitants. Nebuchadnezzar begins repopulating the city with loyal Babylonians.
584 BC: The Syracusan explorers explore the island of Sandalyon Borealis (Corsica). The Syracuse Republic now includes Sicily, Oceanus, Sandalyon, parts of North Africa, and mainland Italy up to Bari.
578 BC: Several small outposts are founded on Sandalyon Borealis.
562 BC: Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon dies.
559 BC: Carthage attempts to capture Nova Carthage. That siege is broken, and the Syracusans begin a blockade and siege of Carthage, while taking Carthage possessions.
556 BC: Carthage finally capitulates, and is sacked. Most Carthage territory is annexed by the Syracusans; the rest is formed into a vassal Carthage Republic.
546 BC: Lydia is conquered by Persia.
541 BC: Oceanus rises up against Syracuse. Syracuse and Oceanus signs the Syracuse Treaty. The island of Oceanus Occidentalis (Gozo) will remain part of Syracuse, while Oceanus will form its own vassal state.
537 BC: Babylon is occupied by Persian forces.
528 BC: Persia conquers Judea, and creates the Achaemenid Dynasty in Judea.
525 BC: Persia then conquers Egypt, and establishes the Twenty-seventh Dynasty.
515 BC: The Second Temple of Jerusalem is completed.
509 BC: The Roman Republic is declared in Rome, overthrown the Roman Kingdom.
502 BC: Etruscans suffer a major defeat at the hands of the Roman Republic.
499 BC: The Ionian Revolt begins against the Persian Empire. The Persian War begins, and Greek ships travel along the Persian coast and incite rebellion.
498 BC: The Greeks burn and capture the city of Sardis.
496 BC: The Romans defeat another Etruscan army at the Battle of Lake Regillus.
494 BC: The Ionian Revolt ends after the Persians defeat the Greeks at the Battle of Lade. Greek envoys set sail for the city of Syracuse. The envoys plan to plead for Syracusan aid.
493 BC: Syracuse leaders agree to send aid to the other Greeks.
492 BC: Persian commander Mardonius invades Greece. Thrace is overrun by the Persians.
491 BC: Mardonius overruns and captures Macedonia. Several more Persian forces arrive.
490 BC: A combined Athenian-Syracusan fleet defeats the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, driving the Persians out of Greece. A ten year peace is made.
488 BC: Syracuse begins occupying more of Sandalyon Borealis. Rome and Syracuse begin trading.
487 BC: Egypt unsuccessfully revolts against the Persians. Some say this revolt help weaken the Persian Empire.
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Pax Syracuse
Part I: The Rise of Syracuse
734 BC: The city of Syracuse is established on Sicily. Even though it is a Greek colony, it is a de facto independent nation.
720-700 BC: Syracuse takes control of most of the island of Sicily and parts of southern Italy.
708 BC: The city of Taranto is established by Spartan colonists. Spartan will lose contact with Taranto in 699 because Syracuse seized it. Sparta thinks that it was destroyed by native Italians or by disease.
701 BC: The Judea Revolt against Assyria. Assyria and Judea come to an agreement, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem is founded.
700 BC: The Syracuse Republic is declared in Syracuse. Since most Syracusans are Spartan, the Syracuse adopts a militaristic-style civilization and government.
699 BC: The city of Taranto is sacked and captured by Syracuse. Syracuse adopts Taranto as its main naval base.
694 BC: The Syracuse Republic consists of Sicily and the OTL Calabria region of Italy and Taranto.
691 BC: Elam is able to retain its independence from the Assyrians.
683 BC: Syracuse captures the islands of Oceanus (Malta), increasing size of the Republic. Syracuse becomes rich and prosperous after initial trading with Sparta.
674 BC: Assyria successfully puts down a rebellion in Ashkelon, which was supported by Egypt. Assyria then invades Egypt, but fails.
670 BC: Assyria sacks the northernmost Jerusalem city, Acre. Jerusalem in response, invades Assyria, which is beaten back. Jerusalem is sacked and captured, putting an end to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
668 BC: Assyria invades Egypt for the second time. Assyria successfully takes Lower Egypt, but not Upper.
667 BC: The city of Byzantium is founded.
664 BC: Egyptians rise up against the Assyrians while Upper Egypt invades Lower Egypt. Egypt is reunited as one empire.
661 BC: The final Assyrians are driven out of Egypt, and then most of Judea. The Kingdom of Judea is founded, with its capital in Jerusalem. The king of Judea is also the Duke (or a similar title) of Jerusalem.
657 BC: Syracuse now has complete control of the Gulf of Sicily (Gulf of Taranto).
652 BC: Babylonia rises up against the Assyrians once again, but this time it is unsuccessful.
649 BC: The Babylonian revolt against Assyria is finally crushed. Syracusan traders make contact with Roman traders.
640 BC: The Assyrians and Elam fight to a draw.
634 BC: The city of Cyrene is founded in North Africa by Syracusan naval forces. Cyrene is originally a naval base, but in 604 BC, it will be opened up for use by traders.
625 BC: Syracuse, Egypt, and Judea support another Babylonian revolt. Babylonians declare their independence, and the Neo-Babylonian Empire is formed.
614 BC: Syracuse extends its influence to the island of Sandalyon (Sardinia). Carthaginian and Syracusan traders begin trading with one another.
600’s BC: The Assyrian Empire begins to collapse, and is replaced with Babylon.
600 BC: The Babylonians build the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
598 BC: The Babylonians capture Jerusalem. They replace King Jehoiakim with King Jehoiachin.
588 BC: Jerusalem rises up against their Babylonian-imposed rulers. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon lays siege to the city.
586 BC: Nebuchadnezzar sacks Jerusalem, and destroys the Temple and exiles the cities remaining inhabitants. Nebuchadnezzar begins repopulating the city with loyal Babylonians.
584 BC: The Syracusan explorers explore the island of Sandalyon Borealis (Corsica). The Syracuse Republic now includes Sicily, Oceanus, Sandalyon, parts of North Africa, and mainland Italy up to Bari.
578 BC: Several small outposts are founded on Sandalyon Borealis.
562 BC: Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon dies.
559 BC: Carthage attempts to capture Nova Carthage. That siege is broken, and the Syracusans begin a blockade and siege of Carthage, while taking Carthage possessions.
556 BC: Carthage finally capitulates, and is sacked. Most Carthage territory is annexed by the Syracusans; the rest is formed into a vassal Carthage Republic.
546 BC: Lydia is conquered by Persia.
541 BC: Oceanus rises up against Syracuse. Syracuse and Oceanus signs the Syracuse Treaty. The island of Oceanus Occidentalis (Gozo) will remain part of Syracuse, while Oceanus will form its own vassal state.
537 BC: Babylon is occupied by Persian forces.
528 BC: Persia conquers Judea, and creates the Achaemenid Dynasty in Judea.
525 BC: Persia then conquers Egypt, and establishes the Twenty-seventh Dynasty.
515 BC: The Second Temple of Jerusalem is completed.
509 BC: The Roman Republic is declared in Rome, overthrown the Roman Kingdom.
502 BC: Etruscans suffer a major defeat at the hands of the Roman Republic.
499 BC: The Ionian Revolt begins against the Persian Empire. The Persian War begins, and Greek ships travel along the Persian coast and incite rebellion.
498 BC: The Greeks burn and capture the city of Sardis.
496 BC: The Romans defeat another Etruscan army at the Battle of Lake Regillus.
494 BC: The Ionian Revolt ends after the Persians defeat the Greeks at the Battle of Lade. Greek envoys set sail for the city of Syracuse. The envoys plan to plead for Syracusan aid.
493 BC: Syracuse leaders agree to send aid to the other Greeks.
492 BC: Persian commander Mardonius invades Greece. Thrace is overrun by the Persians.
491 BC: Mardonius overruns and captures Macedonia. Several more Persian forces arrive.
490 BC: A combined Athenian-Syracusan fleet defeats the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, driving the Persians out of Greece. A ten year peace is made.
488 BC: Syracuse begins occupying more of Sandalyon Borealis. Rome and Syracuse begin trading.
487 BC: Egypt unsuccessfully revolts against the Persians. Some say this revolt help weaken the Persian Empire.
