eady gained a footing on the eastern shores of the Adriatic was by far the more formidable to Greece。 After the conclusion of the peace with the AEtolians Philip prepared a large fleet； which he employed to watch the movements of the Romans； and in the following year （216） he concluded a treaty with Hannibal； which； among other clauses； provided that the Romans should not be allowed to retain their conquests on the eastern side of the Adriatic。 He even meditated an invasion of Italy； and with that view endeavoured to make himself master of Apollonia and Oricum。 But though he succeeded in taking the latter city； the Romans surprised his camp whilst he was besieging Apollonia； and compelled him to burn his ships and retire。 Meanwhile Philip had acted in a most arbitrary manner in the affairs of Greece； and when Aratus remonstrated with him respecting his proceedings； he got rid of his former friend and counsellor by means of a slow and secret poison （B。C。 213）。
In B。C。； 209 the Achaeans； being hard pressed by the AEtolians； were again induced to call in the aid of Philip。 The spirit of the Achaeans was at this time revived by Philopoemen； one of the few noble characters of the period； and who has been styled by Plutarch 〃the last of the Greeks。〃 He was a native of Megalopolis in Arcadia； and in 208 was elected Strategus of the league。 In both these posts Philopoemen made great alterations and improvements in the arms and discipline of the Achaean forces； which he assimilated to those of the Macedonian phalanx。 These reforms； as well as the public spirit with which he had inspired the Achaeans were attended with the most beneficial results。 In 207 Philopoemen gained at Mantinea a signal victory over the Lacedaemonians； who had joined the Roman alliance； 4000 of them were left upon the field； and among them Machanidas who had made himself tyrant of Sparta。 This decisive battle； combined with the withdrawal of the Romans； who； being desirous of turning their undivided attention towards Carthage； had made peace with Philip （205）； secured for a few years the tranquillity of Greece。 It also raised the fame of Philopoemen to its highest point； and in the next Nemean festival； being a second time general of the league； he was hailed by the assembled Greeks as the liberator of their country。
Upon the conclusion of the second Punic war the Romans renewed their enterprises in Greece； and declared war against Philip （B。C。 200）。 For some time the war lingered on without any decided success on either side； but in 198 the consul T。 Quinctius Flamininus succeeded in gaining over the Achaean league to the Roman alliance； and as the AEtolians had previously deserted Philip； both those powers fought for a short time on the same side。 In 197 the struggle was brought to a termination by the battle of Cynoscephalae； near Scotussa； in Thessaly； which decided the fate of the Macedonian monarchy。 Philip was obliged to sue for peace； and in the following year （196） a treaty was ratified by which the Macedonians were compelled to renounce their supremacy； to withdraw their garrisons from the Grecian towns； to surrender their fleet； and to pay 1000 talents for the expenses of the war。 At the ensuing Isthmian games Flamininus solemnly proclaimed the freedom of the Greeks； and was received by them with overwhelming joy and gratitude。
The AEtolians； dissatisfied with these arrangements； persuaded Antiochus III。； king of Syria； to enter into a league against the Romans。 He passed over into Greece with a wholly inadequate force； and was defeated by the Romans at Thermopylae （B。C。 191）。 The AEtolians were now compelled to make head against the Romans by themselves。 After some ineffectual attempts at resistance they were reduced to sue for peace； which they at length obtained； but on the most humiliating conditions （B。C。 189）。 They were required to acknowledge the supremacy of Rome； to renounce all the conquests they had recently made； to pay an indemnity of 500 talents and to engage in future to aid the Romans in their wars。 The power of the AEtolian league was thus for ever crushed； though it seems to have existed； in name at least； till a much later period。
The Achaean league still subsisted but was destined before long to experience the same fate as its rival。 At first； indeed； it enjoyed the protection of the Romans； and even acquired an extension of members through their influence； but this protectorate involved a state of almost absolute dependence。 Philopoemen also had succeeded； in the year 192； in adding Sparta to the league； which now embraced the whole of Peloponnesus。 But Sparta having displayed symptoms of insubordination； Philopoemen marched against it in 188； and captured the city； when he put to death eighty of the leading men； razed the walls and fortifications； abolished the institutions of Lycurgus； and compelled the citizens to adopt the democratic constitution of the Achaeans。 Meanwhile the Romans regarded with satisfaction the internal dissensions of Greece； which they foresaw would only render her an easier prey； and neglected to answer the appeals of the Spartans for protection。 In 183 the Messenians； under the leadership of Dinocrates； having revolted from the league； Philopoemen； who had now attained the age of 70； led an expedition against them； but having fallen from his horse in a skirmish of cavalry； he was captured； and conveyed with many circumstances of ignominy to Messene； where； after a sort of mock trial； he was executed。 His fate was avenged by Lycortas； the commander of the Achaean cavalry； the father of the historian Polybius。
In B。C。 179 Philip died； and was succeeded by his son Perseus； the last monarch of Macedonia。 The latter years of the reign of Philip had been spent in preparations for a renewal of the war； which he foresaw to be inevitable； yet a period of seven years elapsed after the accession of Perseus before the mutual enmity of the two powers broke out into open hostilities。 The war was protracted three years without any decisive result； but was brought to a conclusion in 168 by the consul L。 AEmilius Paulus； who defeated Perseus with great loss near Pydna。 Perseus was carried to Rome to adorn the triumph of Paulus （167）； and was permitted to spend the remainder of his life in a sort of honourable captivity at Alba。 Such was the end of the Macedonian empire； which was now divided into four districts； each under the jurisdiction of an oligarchical council。
The Roman commissioners deputed to arrange the affairs of Macedonia did not confine their attention to that province； but evinced their design of bringing all Greece under the Roman sway。 In these views they were assisted by various despots and traitors in different Grecian cities； and especially by Callicrates； a man of great influence among the Achaeans； and who for many years lent himself as the base tool of the Romans to effect the enslavement of his country。 After the fall of Macedonia； Callicrates denounced more than a thousand leading Achaeans who had favoured the cause of Perseus。 These； among whom was Polybius the historian； were apprehended and sent to Rome for trial。 A still harder fate was experienced by AEtolia； Boeotia； Acarnania； and Epirus。 In the last…named country； especially； no fewer than seventy of the principal towns were abandoned by Paulus to his soldiers for pillage； and 150；000 persons are said to have been sold into slavery。
A quarrel between the Achaeans and Sparta afforded the Romans a pretence for crushing the small remains of Grecian independence by the destruction of the Achaean league。
The Spartans； feeling themselves incompetent to resist the Achaeans； appealed to the Romans for assistance； and in 147 two Roman commissioners were sent to Greece to settle the disputes between the two states。 These commissioners decided that not only Sparta； but Corinth； and all the other cities； except those of Achaia； should be restored to their independence。 This decision occasioned serious riots at Corinth； the most important city of the league。 All the Spartans in the town were seized； and even the Roman commissioners narrowly escaped violence。 On their return to Rome a fresh embassy was despatched to demand satisfaction for these outrages。 But the violent and impolitic conduct of Critolaus； then Strategus of the league； rendered all attempts at accommodation fruitless； and after the return of the ambassadors the Senate declared war against the league。 The cowardice and incompetence of Critolaus as a general were only equalled by his previous insolence。 On the approach of the Romans under Metellus from Macedonia he did not even venture to make a stand at Thermopylae； and being overtaken by them near Scarphea in Locris； he was totally defeated； and never again heard of。 Diaeus； who succeeded him as Strategus； displayed rather more energy and courage。 But a fresh Roman force under Mummius having landed on the isthmus； Diaeus was overthrown in a battle near Corinth； and that city was immediately evacuated not only by the troops of the league； but also by the greater part of the inhabitants。 On entering it Mummius put the few males who remained to the sword； sold the women and children as slave