Samnium and the SamnitesRome engulfed first her near neighbours, then Italy and finally much of the known world. Her expansion was so successful that the history and culture of her main rivals, the Samnites, is too often overlooked. The author describes Samnium and the language of the Samnites, then reconstructs their culture, religion, economy and governmental system. Professor Salmon discusses their policy in Italy and their relations with Rome. The subsequent description of the three Samnite Wars and the Pyrrhic War critically reinterprets the principally Roman evidence for the military history of Roman Italy. Professor Salmon presents evidence about Samnium in the political organisation and civilisation of Roman Italy, and includes an important discussion of the Social War from the Italian point of view rather than from the purely Roman viewpoint. Originally published in 1967, much of the evidence collected and interpreted by Professor Salmon in this study - involving art, archeaology, topography and literary sources - was not generally accessible at the time. A fresh insight was offered into the history of Republican Rome as well as Samnium itself. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Aesernia Agnone Allies Allifae amongst ancient Appian Apulia Aquilonia army Aufidena Beloch Beneventum Bovianum bronze Caiatia Campania Capoue préromaine Capua Caraceni Caudine Caudini certainly coins consuls Decius Diod Diodorus Dion Epit Etruria Etruscans evidence Fabius Rullianus Fasti Festus Florus fourth century Fregellae Frentani Greek Hannibal Heurgon Hirpini Hist inscription insurgents Italian Italic Italici Italy Jupiter later Latin Colony Latium Liris valley Livy Livy 23 Livy 9 Livy's Lucani Luceria Marius Marrucini Marsi meddix military Nola Oros Oscan Oscan-speaking Paeligni Papirius Papius Pentri perhaps Pietrabbondante plebeian Pliny Plut Polyb Pompeii Pontius Postumius praetor presumably probably Punic recorded region Röm Roman Rome Sabellian Sabellic Sabines Saepinum Samnite League Samnite Wars Samnium Saticula Second Samnite Second Samnite War seems Social Social War Strabo suggests Sulla's Sulpicius Teanum Telesia territory third century town treaty tribes triumph troops Varro Velleius Venafrum Venusia Vetter victory