SICILIA

Sicilia

Sicilia was the first province acquired by the Roman Republic, organized in 241 BC as a proconsular governed territory, in the aftermath of the First Punic War with Carthage. It included Sicily and Malta. Very important during the republican period for its role in supplying grain to the city of Rome, the island started to lose importance with the conquest of Africa and especially with the annexation of the Ptolemaic kingdom. Nevertheless the province was to regain its importance centuries later, when Rome lost control over these areas and was forced to turn back to Sicily for her needs.

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