Ben - e - ven'tum in 275 B. C. , and was so completely overcome that he had to return to Epirus . Tarentum yielded , and soon the other Greek cities fell into the hands of the Romans. An Italian " city " meant not only the town itself within the walls , but also the district surrounding the town , so that in conquering the Italian cities Rome had conquered the whole country . From the " toe of Italy to the tiny rivers Ru'bi con and Ma'cra , the whole land was in the power of the Romans .
SUMMARY
From the wars with the Volscians comes the story of Coriolanus, who spared Rome at his own peril . In the wars with the Æquians , Cincinnatus was called from the plough to save the state . During the long siege of Veii, wages were paid to the Roman soldiers for the first time The Romans drained the Alban Lake, entered Veii through the tunnel, and captured the city.
Camillus punished the treacherous schoolmaster, and the Fale rians surrendered .
The Romans went to the aid of the Etruscans against the Gauls, but were defeated at the river Allia. The Gauls entered Rome, but the warning of the geese saved the citadel . Camillus , who had been exiled , returned and ransomed Rome with steel. Rome was re built .
The Romans fought with the Samnites and the Latins. The bat tle of Mt. Vesuvius is noted for the sacrifice of Decius Mus . Man lius punished his son's disobedience with death. Rome conquered the Latins and made a treaty with each city separately . At the Caudine Forks, the Romans were sent under the yoke; but soon avenged themselves by a victory.
The Gauls, Etruscans, and Sam ites united to conquer the Ro
THE ROMANS OF THE EARLY REPUBLIC 61
mans ; but the Roman victory at Sentinum , in 295 B. C. , made it clear that Rome was to be mistress of Italy .
Contrary to their treaty, the Romans entered the harbor of Tarentum. Warensued. The Tarentines, aidedby Pyrrhus and his elephants , won the battle of Heraclea , in 280 B. C. , but with such losses that Pyrrhus wished to make peace . The Romans refused , and Pyrrhus was driven back to Epirus. From the " toe" of Italy to the Rubicon and the Macra, the whole land was in the power of the Romans.
SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITTEN WORK
The wife of Cincinnatus describes the visit of the ambassadors to her husband.
One of the schoolboys of Falerii tells the story of Camillus and the treacherous schoolmaster .
A Gaul tells his friends of the coming of Camillus to ransom Rome.
A Roman soldier describes his first sight of the elephants of Pyrrhus.
THE ROMANS OF THE EARLY REPUBLIC AND THEIR WAYS
Even if there were no truth in the old stories of Rome, they would , nevertheless , tell us much about the character of the Romans. People are always inclined to become like those whom they admire, and therefore the best Romans must have been like the heroes of the legends. They were , then ,