The military operations of this war were of slight importance. Marcus
Valerius Laevinus was sent to the Adriatic, and pushed the king so
hard that he was obliged to burn the fleet in which he intended to
sail for Italy. Philip was at this time at war with Aetolia. Laevinus
assisted the Aetolians, and the king was too fully occupied at home to
think of operations farther away. But in 205, the Romans, wishing to
concentrate their energies upon the invasion of Africa, made peace.

Some of Philip's soldiers had been captured at Zama. He demanded their
return. The answer was, that, if he wished war again, he could have
it.

There were several other reasons which led to the SECOND MACEDONIAN
WAR (200-197). Philip had agreed with ANTIOCHUS III., king of Syria,
to attempt with him the division of Egypt, since it seemed probable
that the young king, Epiphanes (Ptolemy V.), who was only four years
old, would not be able to make an effectual resistance. The ministers
of Egypt sought the protection of Rome. On their journey, the Roman
envoys sent to assume the office of protectorship remonstrated with
Philip.

In Asia Minor Philip had conducted himself with such barbarity that
the people rose against him; and from a similar cause Greece was
driven to seek alliances which would protect her against him.

Rome was unwilling to undertake a new war, but the people were induced
to vote for one, on the representation that the only means of
preventing an invasion of Italy was to carry the war abroad.