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.
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.