THE ROMANS OF THE EARLY REPUBLIC 71
Roman troops would come down upon them , and that the punishments of Rome were swift and severe . Another method by which Rome kept her conquests was by a much pleasanter means than fighting or threatening, that is , by founding colonies . When Rome overcame a dis trict , part of the land was always given to Roman citizens who would go there to found colonies . These colonies were not mere military camps ; they were founded by men who had come to live quietly on their farms . They governed the colonies as Rome was governed, and they practiced the man ners and customs of Rome . The result was that the con quered people soon learned to talk Latin and to understand Roman ways of living and thinking and ruling. Just as far as possible the Romans made it difficult for these conquered towns to have much to do with one another, but easy to have dealings with Rome . As their people came to know more of Rome, they could hardly help learning to admire her and wishing to become citizens. So it was that Rome held fast whatever country came into her hands . It is wonderful that a tiny settlement surrounded by enemies should have been able to grow into a state strong enough to overcome all these enemies . It is still more wonderful that having overcome them , she should have succeeded in making them not only obedient to her rule , but proud of being governed by a city that they had come to look upon with respect and admira tion .
SUMMARY
The old stories of Rome give a good idea of the character of the people . The houses and the food were simple . The toga was the chief article of the man's dress, the stola of the woman's. Children were taught to know a little of books , to use their bodies well, to worship the gods , to love their country , and to be obedient .
The Romans had many gods . Their worship was a sort of barter between themselves and the gods . The augur was the interpreter of the will of the gods and of the significance of omens. The wed ding ceremonies required a full day.
The Romans were famous builders . The chief object of their roads was to enable them to march bodies of troops rapidly . Rome kept her conquests by force and by founding colonies.
SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITTEN WORK
Fabius Cunctator tells the story of saluting his son .
A Roman school-boy tells what he likes best to do .
A Roman describes the omens seen by an augur .
A description of a wedding procession . VII
HOW THE ROMANS CONQUERED CARTHAGE
a ITALY is shaped like a boot , and the toe of the boot points across Sicily and the Mediterranean to Africa where the city of Car'thage once stood . Carthage was founded about one hundred years earlier than Rome. The land about it was
72 STORY
OF THE ROMAN PEOPLE