The History of Rome - Table of Contents More Conquests of Central Italy

As time went on many problems developed over territory and the problems and especially in central southern Italy with the Samnites, a strong, fierce Italic tribe. Rome lost many battles, but despite this they carried on. The Samnites were rallying all of the enemies of Rome that they could find, especially the Etruscans and the Gauls. The day soon came when they all met against Rome on the battlefield of Sentinum in 295 BC and Rome cruished them, so all danger to Rome from this time period was past, and she stood as the leading power in the Italian peninsula. The Samnites were forced to become subject allies to Rome by 290 BC.

During the next 10 years, Rome went after the Gauls and defeated them. Rome took a part of their territory, and meanwhile the many Etruscan cities with their allies were defeated and incorporated in the Roman state as allies. Rome was now sitting as king of all central and northern Italy. Only southern Italy still remained independent.

The History of Rome - Part One 743 - 136 B.C.

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