bᵻjˌɔnd ðɪ ɪntˈɜːnəl pəlˈɪɾɪkəl kˈɑːnflɪkt, ðə ɹˈoʊmən ɑːbdʒˈɛktɪv ɪn sˈʌðɚn ɡˈɔːl wʌz tʊ ɛnʃˈʊɹ ðə sˈeɪfti ʌvðə tɹˈeɪdɪŋ ɹˈaʊt bᵻtwˌiːn ðɪ aɪbˈɪɹiən pənˈɪnsjʊlə ænd ˈɪɾəli, wˌɪtʃ wʌz θɹˈɛʔn̩d baɪ ðə lɪɡjˈʊɹɹiən tɹˈaɪbz ɚɹˈaʊnd mæsˈeɪliə.
Beyond the internal political conflict, the Roman objective in southern Gaul was to ensure the safety of the trading route between the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, which was threatened by the Ligurian tribes around Massalia.