The following timeline summarises some of the more important events that took place in the years immediately preceding Rome's formal declaration of war against Carthage in 149 B.C. This annotated timeline includes references to useful passages within our two principal ancient sources (Appian and Polybius) and gives the consuls for each year.

Suggestions, corrections, and other helpful remarks would be greatly appreciated. Since this timeline will permanently be designated as a work-in-progress, additions (when deemed necessary) may be made at any time, so feel free to send in your ideas (especially on the matter of assigning dates to specific events). As the timeline is updated, older versions will be removed in order to keep this message board from becoming too cluttered.

All dates are B.C.

153 (Q. Fulvius Nobilor, T. Annius Luscus)

• Roman delegation (including Cato) sent to mediate in a dispute between Masinissa and Carthage (NOTE: alternatively dated to 152) (Appian 69)

152 (L. Valerius Flaccus, M. Claudius Marcellus)

• Roman Senate resolves to make war upon Carthage once a suitable pretext is found (Appian 69; Polybius 36.2)

151 (A. Postumius Albinus, L. Licinius Lucullus)

• Carthage makes final payment on indemnity imposed by Rome after the Second Punic War

150 (T. Quinctius Flamininus, M’. Acilius Balbus)

• spring-summer: Carthaginian-Numidian War (Appian 70-73)
• Rome begins to raise an army (Appian 74)
• Carthaginians condemn Hasdrubal and other military leaders involved in the war against Numidia to death in order to remove any pretext for war (Appian 74)
• First Carthaginian delegation to Rome (Appian 74)
• Second Carthaginian delegation to Rome (Appian 74)
• Roman Senate continues search for other “attractive” pretexts, in addition to the Carthaginian-Numidian conflict (Polybius 36.2)