Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/452

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438
STRABO.
CASAUB. 286.

to gain the ascendency, since she excels the circumjacent countries both in the valour of her population and in extent of territory, and by being in proximity to them seems to have been ordained to bring them into subjection without difficulty.

2. If, in addition to our description of Italy, a few words should be summarily added about the Romans who have possessed themselves of it, and prepared it as a centre from whence to enforce their universal dominion, we would offer the following.—The Romans, after the foundation of their state, discreetly existed as a kingdom for many years, till Tarquin, the last [Roman king], abused his power, when they expelled him, and established a mixed form of government, being a modification both of the monarchical and aristocratical systems; they admitted both the Sabines[y 1] and Latins[y 2] into their alliance, but as neither they nor the other neighbouring states continued to act with good faith towards them at all times, they were under the necessity of aggrandizing themselves by the dismemberment of their neighbours.[1] Having thus, by degrees, arrived at a state of considerable importance, it chanced that they lost their city suddenly, contrary to the expectation of all men, and again recovered the same contrary to all expectation.[2] This took place, according to Polybius, in the nineteenth year after the naval engagement of Ægos-potami,[3] about the time of the conclusion of the peace of Antalcidas.[y 3] Having escaped these misfortunes, the Romans first reduced all the Latins[y 4] to complete obedience, they then subdued the Tyrrheni,[y 5] and stayed the Kelts, who border the Po, from their too frequent and licentious forays; then the Samnites, and after them they conquered the Tarentines and Pyrrhus,[y 6] and presently after the remainder of what is now considered as Italy, with the exception of the districts on the Po. While these still remained a subject of dispute they passed over into Sicily,[y 7] and having wrested that island from the Carthaginians[y 8] they

  1. ↑ The Latins were first subjected in 499 B. C., but not totally subjugated; the Sabines were almost annihilated in the war which happened about 450 B. C.
  2. ↑ See Polyb. Hist. book i. chap. vi. § 1, edit. Schweigh, tom. i. p. 12.
  3. ↑ This battle was fought in the year 405 B. C.
  1. ↑ In the year 747 B. C.
  2. ↑ In the year 594 B. C.
  3. ↑ Concluded 387 B. C.
  4. ↑ About 338 B. C.
  5. ↑ About 310 B. C.
  6. ↑ About 275 B. C.
  7. ↑ In the year 264 B. C.
  8. ↑ In the year 241 B. C.
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