212 BC

212 BC refers to the year 212 Before Christ in the Julian calendar, a year of significant events in the ancient world.

Historical Context: 212 BC falls within the period of the Roman Republic's expansion in the Mediterranean, particularly during the Second Punic War against Carthage.

Key Events:

• Second Punic War: This year saw continued fighting between Rome and Carthage. The siege of Syracuse, a key Greek city allied with Carthage in Sicily, was a major event.
• Fall of Syracuse: The Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus captured Syracuse after a lengthy siege. The siege is famous for the innovative defensive machines devised by Archimedes, a prominent mathematician and inventor who resided in the city. Archimedes himself was killed during the sack of the city by a Roman soldier.
• Roman Expansion in Spain: Roman forces continued to struggle against Carthaginian forces in Hispania (modern-day Spain and Portugal), seeking to cut off Hannibal's supply lines.
• Consuls: The Roman consuls for the year were Appius Claudius Pulcher and Quintus Fulvius Flaccus.

Significance:

212 BC is a notable year due to the fall of Syracuse, a significant victory for Rome in the Second Punic War and a turning point in the control of Sicily. The death of Archimedes during the sack of Syracuse also marks the loss of one of antiquity's greatest scientific minds. The events of this year contributed to Rome's eventual victory over Carthage and the establishment of Roman dominance in the Mediterranean.