After Alexander the Great's death, his short-lived empire was partitioned between his generals during the Wars of the Diadochi.

[1] Rome readily accepted this inheritance from Ptolemy Apion but preferred to leave the administration to local rulers, rather than enforcing direct control.

However, by the 70s BC, civil uprisings by Jewish settlers began to destabilise the province and the Senate was forced to take action.

Then in 69 BC, Rome commissioned Quintus Caecilius Metellus and, following a ferocious three-year campaign, Crete was conquered for Rome in 66 BC, Metellus earning the agnomen "Creticus" as an honour for his conquest and subjugation of Crete.

[4] In 117 AD, a Jewish revolt erupted in Cyrenaica, resulting in the death of two hundred and twenty thousand people.