What if the Roman Republic lost most of the key battles of the Cimbrian War (maybe through Gaius Marius dying in his fight against Jugurtha of Numidia), in the late 2nd century BCE?
What would happen next? Could the Cimbri and the Teutones invade the italian peninsula and sack Rome? Could they form coherent states in the territories of the Republic after the war?
What about the surroundings of Rome? Could Mithridates of Pontus take advantage of the Roman collapse? What happens to Egypt, especially if they lose their patron?
What are the political ramifications within the Republic itself, if it is not destroyed?
 
I'll help you. I feel some sympathy for bumps and stuff.

If Rome really got hammered here, it probably still wouldn't kill the Romans.

They lost 20% of their adult male population in a single day (Cannae) and still told Hannibal to 'shove it and wait for round 2'

One battle loss is not enough to kill Republican Rome.

A weaker Rome could lead to Carthage gaining better strength over Sicily. Otherwise no clue.
 
A weaker Rome could lead to Carthage gaining better strength over Sicily. Otherwise no clue.
Carthage, as an independent state, was destroyed thirty years before the Cimbrian War.
In regards to Sicily, maybe the Roman elite and government can flee there as the Cimbri and Teutones plunder Italy?
 
Carthage, as an independent state, was destroyed thirty years before the Cimbrian War.

AH. Terribly sorry. That's me being stupid. Maybe Greek influence remains stronger in the time period?

Weaker Rome means far less Latinisation, maybe even a somewhat more unified culture of the Mediterranean?

The problem is here that Rome by this point had kicked everyone's arses in the Western Med and as a result was kind of guaranteed to become a great power.

If they're smashed from this its a power vacuum, and since Carthage is now in ruins and so is Rome, then... the only people I can think of is the natives in the region or the Greeks.
 
AH. Terribly sorry. That's me being stupid. Maybe Greek influence remains stronger in the time period?

Weaker Rome means far less Latinisation, maybe even a somewhat more unified culture of the Mediterranean?
It depends on wether or not the Greeks revolt against the Roman yoke, possibly with the help of Pontus. Greece proper was also subdued into the Roman system at around the same time as the Third Punic War.
 
It depends on wether or not the Greeks revolt against the Roman yoke, possibly with the help of Pontus. Greece proper was also subdued into the Roman system at around the same time as the Third Punic War.

So its a case of power vaccuum, so my best guess is the native tribes re-assert themselves over the colonials from Greece.
 
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