506

Aricia--Latins and Aristodemus defeat Etruscans; the latter withdraw north of the Tiber.

500-400

Arrival of Gauls in northern Italy. Po Valley occupied; henceforth called "Gallia Cisalpina" = "Gaul, this side of the Alps"

496

Battle of Lake Regillus--Latins defeated in battle about the hegemony of Rome in Latium.

493

Foedus Cassianum--alliance of two equal groups against hill tribes agree to establish colonies and share the booty equally.

460

Cincinnatus and the Aequi (Liv 3, 26) The Latin League successfully at work. Seasonal campaigning against the semi-nomadic hill tribes.

460-420

Important colonies (independent communities) established.

405-396

Veii (a 10 year siege). Veii was a highly urbanized Etruscan community just up the Tiber from Rome, indeed she sat astride the road to the interior. Rome's territory doubled and considerable booty distributed. Dedications to Apollo suggest increasing contact with Greece and Greek ideas.

390

Allia--"black day"; Roman army destroyed by Gauls. Roman spears unable to stop the first rush or to be effective against Gallic long swords. The city sacked (cf. Liv. 5.11).

390-360

Numerous border wars as consequence of Gallic catastrophe

358

Latin league re-organized.

354

Treaty with Samnites (a group of Italic tribes in central Italy). Sphere of influence re-defined and extended; common front against Gauls.

343

Rome rejects treaty when Capua, a wealthy, settled Greek city under attack from Samnites, asks for aid.

340-338

The Great Latin War.

326-304

Second Samnite War: Naples, again a developed and prosperous Greek city, seeks Roman aid against Samnites. Campania too important to be ignored. Rome ventures into mountains but has much to learn.

321

Battle of Caudine Forks--20,000 Romans captured, but Rome can now put an army of 40,000 in the field. Victory came by extending lines (that is strategically sited colonies and the via Valeria) to Adriatic and dividing Samnites.

298-290

Third Samnite War: Again Rome succeeded due to successful implementation of policy of interior lines, defeating her enemies separately.

295

Critical battle of Sentinum and of Clusium when the Samnites and Etruscans defeated respectively, but separately. That Rome would wage such a war against all these forces at the same time is a sure indication of the overwhelming resources she commanded --four field legions (4x4500) with at least as many allies for a total of 37,000 or more(more than Alexander had taken to Asia). Colony at Venusia founded to control southern Samnium.