Roman Republic - 4

28/06/2021 Roman Republic -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia
Roman Republic
The expansion of Rome
During the 6th century BCE, Rome became one of the more important states in Latium—
owing to the achievements of its Etruscan overlords—but Tibur (Tivoli), Praeneste, and
Tusculum were equally important Latin states. Although the Latins dwelled in politically
independent towns, their common language and culture produced cooperation in religion,
law, and warfare. (This cooperation has come to be known as the Latin League.) The Latin
states occasionally waged war among themselves, but in times of common danger they
banded together for mutual defense.
Toward the end of the 5th century BCE, the Romans

began to expand at the expense of the Etruscan states,
possibly propelled by population growth. Rome’s first
two major wars against organized states were fought
with Fidenae (437–426 BCE), a town near Rome, and
zoom_in
ancient Italic peoples against Veii, an important Etruscan city. Before
Distribution of peoples of ancient Italy
Roman strength increased further, a marauding Gallic
c. 500
tribe swept down the Po River valley and sacked
BCE
. Rome in 390 BCE; the invaders departed, however,
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
after they received a ransom in gold. Forty years of
hard fighting in Latium and Etruria were required to restore Rome’s power. When Rome
became increasingly dominant in the Latin League, the Latins took up arms against Rome
to maintain their independence. The ensuing Latin War (340–338 BCE) was quickly decided
in Rome’s favour.
Rome was now the master of central Italy and spent the next decade pushing forward its
frontier through conquest and colonization. After three wars against the Samnites in the
north (the third in 298–290 BCE) and the Pyrrhic War (280–275 BCE) against Greek towns in
the south, Rome was the unquestioned master of Italy.
Soon, Rome’s success led it into conflict with Carthage, an established commercial power
in northern Africa, for control of the Mediterranean. The ensuing battles, known as the
https://www.britannica.com/print/article/857952 1/3
Punic Wars, spanned the years 264–146 BCE. Two great military geniuses were among the
leaders in these wars. Hannibal led the Carthaginian forces from about 220 to 200, when he
was defeated by the Roman commander Scipio Africanus the Elder. The Romans occupied
Carthage and eventually destroyed it completely in 146.
The defeat of this powerful rival sustained the

Romans’ acquisitive momentum, and they set their
sights on the entire Mediterranean area. To the east,
the Romans defeated Syria, Macedonia, Greece, and
Egypt, all of which had until then been part of the
zoom_in
Western Mediterranean during decaying Hellenistic empire. The Romans also
the Punic WarsEncyclopædia destroyed the Achaean League and burned Corinth
Britannica, Inc.
(146 BCE). Won through massive effort and with
inevitable losses, the newly acquired lands and diverse peoples populating them proved a
challenge to govern effectively. The Romans organized the conquered peoples into
provinces—under the control of appointed governors with absolute power over all non-
Roman citizens—and stationed troops in each, ready to exercise appropriate force if
necessary.
In Rome proper, the majority of citizens suffered the consequences of living in a nation that
had its eyes invariably trained on the far horizon. Roman farmers were unable to raise crops
to compete economically with produce from the provinces, and many migrated to the city.
For a time the common people were placated with bread and circuses, as the authorities
attempted to divert their attention from the gap between their standard of living and that of
the aristocracy. Slavery fueled the Roman economy, and its rewards for the wealthy turned
out to be disastrous for the working classes. Tensions grew and civil wars erupted. The
ensuing period of unrest and revolution marked the transition of Rome from a republic to an
empire.
Notable figures in the civil wars included Gaius Marius, a military leader who was elected
consul seven times, and Sulla, an army officer. The later stages of the civil wars
encompassed the careers of Pompey, the orator Cicero, and Julius Caesar, who eventually
took full power over Rome as its dictator. After his assassination in 44 BCE, the triumvirate
of Mark Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian, Caesar’s nephew, ruled. It was not long before
Octavian went to war against Antony in northern Africa, and after his victory at Actium (31
BCE) he was crowned Rome’s first emperor, Augustus.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam
Augustyn, Managing Editor, Reference Content.
zoom_in
Cesare Maccari: Cicero
Denounces Catiline
Cicero Denounces Catiline, painting
by Cesare Maccari, 1888, depicting
the Roman consul Cicero charging the
aristocrat Catiline with plotting to
overthrow the government.
© DeA Picture Library/age fotostock
Citation Information
Article Title:
Roman Republic
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
03 June 2021
URL:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Roman-Republic
Access Date:
June 28, 2021

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28/06/2021 Roman Republic -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

Toward the end of the 5th century BCE, the Romans

The defeat of this powerful rival sustained the

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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