Timeline of A World of Difference

Initial Point of Divergence:

202 BC- End of the Second Punic War. A pyrrhic Carthaginian victory at Zama led to peace talks between Rome and Carthage. Scipio Africanus and Hannibal's armies, both of whom who had suffered heavy casualties, were in enemy territory, threatening the other side's capital. However, neither had the strength to directly assault the other, nor were the Romans or Carthaginians in a position to commit to a massive resupply effort to allow for future advances. This led to talks, and an eventual status quo antebellum peace treaty. Both sides agree to respect each other's territory- Rome would stay out of North Africa, return Corsica and Sardinia and cease future attacks in Spain, while Carthage permanently ceded Sicily and evacuated the Italian Peninsula.

195 BC- Their strength at least somewhat restored, Rome and Carthage begin expeditions of expansion. Rome invades Greece and Macedonia, while Carthage continues fortifying Iberia, while exploring further south into Africa.

185 BC- Rome finishes the conquest of Greece.

182 BC- Antiochus III invades Macedonia, and is defeated. Rome invades Asia Minor

178 BC- Rome conquers Asia Minor.

122 BC- Rome conquers the remainder of the Seleucid Empire.

108 BC- Rome conquers Ptolemaic Egypt. A hasty peace treaty is signed, recognized Carthaginian claims on Libya and establishing a buffer zone between Aegyptus and Libya.

58 BC-50 BC- Gallic Wars. Julius Caeasar expands Roman territory to the northwest, culminating the Battle of Alesia and the establishment of Roman Britannia. Another treaty is established, making the Pyrenees the demarcation line between the Roman and Carthaginian Republics.

44 BC- Julius Caesar assassinated. Roman Republic plunges into Civil War.

27 BC- Formation of Roman Empire under Octavian. The Empire stretches from Britannia to Egypt. Campaigns are prepared against Parthia in the East. Carthage continues expanding into Africa.

117 AD- Roman Empire reaches the height of its power.

201 AD- Hasdrubal Mago reforms the Republic of Carthage into the Carthaginian Empire. Carthage reaches the height of its power in antiquity, controlling northern Africa west of Egypt, Iberia, and the northern Sahara through the Garamantes, and tributary states and allies comprising the tribes of the Atlantic African coast.

293 AD- Diocletian partitions the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western halves. Birth of the Byzantine Empire.

330s AD- First Byzantine-Sassanid War

400 AD- Beginning of Stagnation in Carthage.

441-452 AD- Saxons occupy entirety of Britain

476 AD- Collapse of the Western Roman Empire

502-506 AD- Second Byzantine-Sassanid War (Anastasian War)

526-532 AD- Third Byzantine-Sassanid War

541-545 AD- Fourth Byzantine-Sassanid War

555 AD- Justinian the Great reconquers much of Rome's former territory.

572- 591 AD- Fifth Byzantine-Sassanid War

602-628 AD- Sixth Byzantine-Sassanid War. Height of the Sassanid Empire (620). Siege of Constantinople (626). Reclamation of lost former territories by Heraclius.

629 AD- Byzantine victory at the Battle of Mu'tah.

632 AD- The Prophet Muhammad finishes the conquest of the Arabian Peninsula.

633 AD- Khalid ibn Walid invades Iraq.

634 AD- Arab victory at Battle of Ajnadayn over Byzantine Empire threatens Levant.

636 AD- Sassanid victory at the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah halts Arab expansion.

636 AD- Byzantine pyrrhic victory at Battle of Yarmouk halts Arab expansion into the Levant.

640-642 AD- Arabs invade and conquer Egypt. Byzantine losses at Yarmouk and repeated conflicts with Sassanids leave them unable to respond.

642 AD- Umar of the Rashidun Caliphate invades Iran. Sassanid victory at the Battle of Nahāvand checks Arab expansion into Sassanid Empire.

642 AD- Battle of Cyrene. Carthage halts Rashidun expansion into North Africa. Creation of small pockets of Islam in Byzantine and Carthaginian Empires. Persecution of Islamic minority by Zoroastrians in Sassanid Empire.

642 AD- Rashidun Caliphate signs peace treaties with Byzantines, Carthaginians, and Sassanids, recognizing Rashidun control of Arabian Peninsula and Egypt.

700-710 AD- Umayyad Caliphate invades Libya. Defeated.

750-755 AD- Second Umayyad invasion of Libya. Defeated.

831-835 AD- Third Umayyad invasion of Libya. Defeated.

835-845 AD- Carthaginian conquest of Egypt and Sinai Peninsula. Treaty signed with Byzantine Empire setting borders.

835-877 AD- Sassanid conquest of Arabian Peninsula. Decline of Islam.

964 AD- Nri Kingdom barrs trade with Carthage.