Was the Rise of Rome after the Punic Wars inevitable?

I'm inclined to disagree. There were still several potential chances for Rome's dominion over the Mediterranean to be checked, or even to crumble.

First, had Marius not reorganized the Roman Army in time to defeat the Cimbri, there of course would have been HUGE reverberations across the Roman Republic. Let's use this as a POD for the time being. With a massive Germanic army rampaging through Italy, unchecked, we could see the sack of several major cities, including Rome possibly!

From this weakened position, Mithradates IV Eupator will have little problem ousting the Romans from Asia, and maybe even Greece, affectively blocking off Roman advance into the Eastern Mediterranean. At this same time Spain was in open rebellion, and could result in the split of the Roman Republic (assuming butterflies havent changed the factional divisions within Rome) with a Roman state in Spain and a Roman state in Italy and North Africa. If a Servile War breaks out around the same time as Sparticus' and of a similar magnitude, this would further weaken Rome, and if this rebellion was supported by Mithradates (something he originally intended to do), you further damage Rome.

This all could happen, not to mention barbarian incursions from the North, who would surely smell blood in Italy, and the likelihood of rebellion in Illyria and Africa.

Within the span of 40 years, the Roman Republic could be reduced to a rump state or two, if you play the cards right. People often forget how unstable the Roman Republic and Empire were, and just how many close calls they had in their history.
 
I'm inclined to disagree. There were still several potential chances for Rome's dominion over the Mediterranean to be checked, or even to crumble.

First, had Marius not reorganized the Roman Army in time to defeat the Cimbri, there of course would have been HUGE reverberations across the Roman Republic. Let's use this as a POD for the time being. With a massive Germanic army rampaging through Italy, unchecked, we could see the sack of several major cities, including Rome possibly!
Do you think that this sign of weakness on Rome's part would lead to their Italian allies demanding a greater say in things (this being, after all, only a few years before the date of the OTL 'Social War') or would facing the Cimbri as a common enemy helpt to bring Rome & the Allies closer together?
 
Do you think that this sign of weakness on Rome's part would lead to their Italian allies demanding a greater say in things (this being, after all, only a few years before the date of the OTL 'Social War') or would facing the Cimbri as a common enemy helpt to bring Rome & the Allies closer together?

People's opinions are hard to predict. It could go either way depending on the Italian leaders and the Roman leaders. I'm willing to bet if a Roman Oligarchist were in power, the Italians would turn on the Romans, but if Marius or one of his Populars were in power, it could go the other way.
 
I think you all misinterpreted when I mentioned the Battle of Cynoscephalae.

If we are going to do all the OTL leaders and their actions. It will result into the same thing, with Rome dominating.

However, in the battle that I mentioned the Romans had Greek allies. Macedonia did not have a good political grasp nor commanded unity in Greece. Although the Legion was being pummeled by the Phalanx in the infantry battle, Philip V overcommitted his infantry without any support of cavalry on his flanks, which resulted his loss in battle because Roman cavalry flanking. The Macedonian cavalry was also weaker quantity and quality compared to Alexander the Greats time which was suppose to be obvious to the leaders and planners. These showed Greek weakness in leadership both military and politically.

This meant that the Greeks did not lose because it was inevitable for the Romans to rule. The Greeks still controlled the wealthiest parts of the Mediterranean back then. The right Greek leader doing the right political and military moves can defeat any Roman invasion.

Going back to the OP, The right POD can butterfly Roman superiority in the Eastern Mediterranean.
 
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