Post by Christopher Martin on Sept 23, 2016 15:09:44 GMT
THE CONQUEST OF ITALY (501-266BC)
After the expulsion of the Etruscan kings (around 509BC), Rome became less wealthy and powerful. The other cities of Latium, which were similar in language (Latin) and culture to Rome, turned against her. Surrounded by enemies, especially the Samnites to the east and the Volscians to the south, Rome was forced to ally itself with them on equal terms - although it was never to accept equality with any city for long.
RISE OF THE PLEBIANS
Remember how the Richest faction in Rome held the most influence and power in the senate? Well, the Plebians (middle classes) grew upset with the fact that the old, aristocratic Patricians held so much more sway than anyone else, and they threatened to secede from the state and leave Rome. This was a very serious threat: Plebians, the middle three classes, if you recall, formed the majority of the army! Finally, after several attempts the Plebians succeeded with the creation of two tribunes in the senate specifically designated to defend the interests of the people. Some other important political developments:
471BC- the Tribunes create a special Assembly of the Plebs to run alongside the existing councils
450BC- the laws are written down on 12 tablets of stone for everyone to see (up till that point, the laws had been unwritten, and could only be interpreted by the patricians)
In 449BC, the Tribunes' number was increased to 10.
421BC- the first plebian quaestors (public officials responsible for revenue and expenditure) are appointed
337BC- the first plebian praetor (one of two public officials in command of the army) is appointed
287- the Lex Hortensia declares that plebiscites (votes of the Plebian assembly) could become law
If you pay close attention, therefore, over the course of nearly 200 years, a revolution in Roman sovereignty takes place in which the Plebs gain more and more power without the aid of bloodshed. That the Romans managed such a thing is a tribute to Roman respect for the genius of law and order.
EXPANSION AND INVASION
To the north of Rome stood the wealthy Etruscan city of Veii, which controlled a network of roads. An intermittent 40-year war developed between Veii and Rome, and it ended only after the Camillus (Rome's emergency ruler) ordered a continuous campaign which did not stop at harvest time. Having conquered Veii in 396BC, Rome's territory suddenly doubled.
Remarkably, however, disaster was only a few years away: in 390BC a hoard of Gauls descended upon Italy, and though Rome sent its entire army (over 15,000 men) to stop them, the barbarians were twice that number and better equipped. Rome's army was destroyed completely, and nearly everyone who lived in Rome itself fled the defenseless city. A massacre ensued, and Rome was burnt to the ground.
Camillus (the emergency ruler who had led the victory over Veii), rallied the citizens to rebuild the city, and in 378, the first of Rome's walls was constructed: The Servian wall. It measured 12 feet thick and 24 feet high and enclosed 1,000 acres . . . then a huge area. Rome would not fall to barbarians again for 800 years.
A four-year war began in 332 between Rome and the Latin League: a group of cities who united together to defeat Rome. In 338, Rome gained a final victory, with each of the cities of the former Latin-League retaining internal autonomy while still being subservient to Rome. Many residents of those cities were even granted Roman citizenship, garnering a great deal of loyalty and favor among these new Roman acquisitions.
Wars were constant, however, for even during the conflict with the Latin League, there was another 40-year war in progress against the Samnites. A major Roman defeat in 321 could have forced Rome to make peace, but Rome rallied, constructing the Via Appia (Appian Way) in order to better supply the southern army. The war ended in 290BC with Rome the undisputed master of central Italy.
Another conflict was not long in coming, however, for a dispute with Tarento, a Greek city in southern Italy, began a war in 280BC. Hiring the Greek king and mercenary leader, Pyrrhus, the Greek alliance of cities was the first to introduce elephants to warfare in Italy. Roman infantry adapted their tactics to deal with elephants and Greek spearmen, however, and by 272 Pyrrhus had been forced to leave city. With Tarento and its allied cities accepting a Roman alliance, Rome was not master of peninsular Italy.
As always, feel free to ask questions.