2. Rome under the kings. — During this early period Rome was undoubtedly governed by kings, who were heads of the army and of religion as well as of civil aflairs. We cannot, however, trust all the details given by ancient historians of the events which occurred during the re^al period. The broad outline may be trusted. The later kings were of Etrurian stock, and are a sign that this element in the population had become dominant. The meeting-place of the various hill communities which combined to make Rome was naturally the hollow between the hills, in the immediate vicinity of the Palatine and the Capitoline. As this place was liable to be inundated by the Tiber, a splendid scheme of drainage was carried out in the Cloaca Maxima, which survives in part to the present day. Towards the end of the regal period Rome joined the other cities of Latium in a league, in which she was destined to become the predominant partner. The meetings of the league were held on the Alban Mount. But for this league Rome could never have conquered Italy. The existence of the league made it possible gradually to do so. First the tribes nearer at hand like the Volscians were conquered.
3. Rome under the praetors. — After the expul- sion of the last king, Rome was governed by two rulers, with the name ' generals ' (prwtores, changed in 367 B.C. to ronsutcs, 'men who consult [the Senate]'). Much of the history of this early period consists of dissensions between the patricians (the ruling class) and the plebeians (the dependent class). Some modern historians think that these two classes represented dilVerent tribes. In any case, the dissensions almost destroyed the com- munity. Had it not been for Rome's luckj' star, thegrowing community would have been strangled. The constitution of the Republic was in fact being slowly hammered out by these quarrels.
The invasion and burning of Rome by a northern Celtic race, the Gauls, in 390 B.C. mark the begin- ning of authentic Roman history. The Romans bought temporary peace from them, but were tor- mented for a number of years by their incursions.
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ROMAN KiMPlllE
ROMAN EMPIRE
The lower classes suHered Jeep distress at tliis time, with which lefjislation endeavoured, not un- successfully, to cope. In the year 287 B.C. the struggle between the orders finally ceased. They were now practically on terms of equality. From this hour liiites the beginning of Rome's power to deal with foreign allairs.
4. Samnite Wars. — Hut we are anticipating. The period 'Ml to 290 B.C. was one of great struggle. The Romans were now united at Rome and iiad secured the predominance in the Latin league, when they were called upon to light the most dangerous enemy they had yet had to deal with. Tlie long contest was for supremacy in Itiily. The Samnites inhabited the central area of Italy, the Ai>penines, but freijuently over-ran the rich plains at their feet. The war l)egan by their attack on the Sidicini, a neutral people between Campania and Samnium. Campania RUp]iorted the Sidicini and Rome supported Campania. The Romans were victorious in this first war (343-341) at Mt. Gaurus, but concluded peace with the Samnites because of internal dissen- sions and dilliculties near home. This war was followed by war with the Latins (340-338), in which the Samnites fought on the Roman side. The contest was to decide whether the Latins should be .subjects of Rome or not. It was fought in Campania, and by 338 B.C. the Romans had proved complete victors. In that year the league was dissolved, and special arrangements were made with individual parties to the old league. Assistance lent by the Samnites to Greek cities in Campania was the occasion of the second Samnite war (326-304). During the first five years the Romans were for the most part successful. This period was followed by a one year's truce, which was broken before its end. In 321 the two Roman consuls sustained a disgraceful defeat at the Caudine Forks, a pass in Campania, and the army had to pass under the yoke. For several years afterwards fortune favoured the Samnites, but in 314 the consuls scored a decisive victory. This was followed by others, interrupted only by an Etruscan war in 311. In 304 the Samnites asked for peace, which was granted, and they were admitted to alliance with Rome. About 300 the Roman power seemed established in central Italy. In the third and last Samnite war (298-290), how- ever, Rome had to face a coalition of Etruscans, Senonian Gauls, Umbrians, and Samnites. In 295 the desperate battle of Sentinum was fought, which resulted in a victory for Rome. The Samnites, however, continued to struggle on, until in 290 they finally gave up the contest. Rome's mastery in Italy was now assured, though it took about a quarter of a century more to subdue the whole peninsula.
5. Conquest of Greek cities of Soath Italy. — The next stage in Rome's career of battle was carried out in connexion with the Greek cities in the south of Italy. The people of Tarentum called in the assistance of a Greek filibuster, Pyrrhus of Epirus, who gave the Romans trouble from 281 to 275 B.C., in which year he returned to Greece finally defeated. In 272 Tarentum fell. Soon after, every nation in Italy south of the 44th parallel of latitude owned Rome's supremacy. She was now the first power of the Western world, and one of the first powers of the ancient world. But empire was not her intention. She gave the cities of Italy self-government, and as far as possible incorporated them with the Roman State. The free inhabitants of Italy consisted now of (ff) Roman citizens, residents in Roman territory and in coloni(e, and individuals in municipia on whom citizenship had been conferred ; (6) in- habitants of municipia (certain country towns)