of
fortress colonies to protect the Roman conquests and overawe the
conquered. The rest was incorporated in the _ager Romanus_ to the profit
of both the rich proprietors and the landless citizens. Usually, the Roman
soldiers shared directly in the distribution of the movable spoils of war;
sometimes a huge booty, as after the subjugation of the Sabines and
Picentes in 290. A long series of successful and profitable wars, for Rome
was ultimately victorious in every struggle after 387, had engendered in
the Roman people a self-confidence and a martial spirit which soon led
them to conquests beyond the confines of Italy. During this period of
expansion within Italy, Roman policy had been guided by the Senate, a body
of unrecorded statesmen of wide outlook and great determination, who not
only made Rome mistress of the peninsula but succeeded in laying enduring
foundations for the Roman power.

*Rome and Italy.* But although Italy was united under the Roman hegemony
it by no means formed a single state. Rather it was an agglomerate of many
states and many peoples, speaking different tongues and having different
political institutions. The largest single element, however, was formed by
the Roman citizens. These were to be found not only in the city of Rome
and its immediate neighborhood, but also settled in the rural tribal
districts (35 in number after 241) organized on conquered territory
throughout the peninsula. In addition, groups of 300 citizens had been
settled in various harbor towns as a sort of resident garrison to protect
Roman interests. In all, down to 183 B. C., 22 of these maritime colonies
were established, whose members in view of their special duties were
excused from active service with the Roman legions. All these were full
Roman citizens, but there were others who, while enjoying the private
rights of Roman citizenship, lacked the right to vote or to hold office
(_cives sine suffragio_). Such were the inhabitants of most of the old
Latin communities and some others which had been absorbed in the Roman
state. Such communities were called _municipia_ (municipalities). Some of
these were permitted to retain their own magistrates and city
organization: others lacked this privilege of local autonomy. Of the
former class, Gabii, conquered during the monarchy, is said to have been
the prototype. This municipal system had the advantage of providing for
local administration and at the same time reconciling the co