Central Italy comprised the northern part of the peninsula proper, that
is, the territory between the line just drawn from the Macra to the
Rubicon, and another line drawn from the Silarus on the west to the
Frento on the east. This territory contained six countries, namely,
three on the western coast,--Etruria, Latium (_la´shi-um_),
and Campania; and three on the eastern coast and along the
Apennines,--Umbria, Picenum, and what we call the Sabellian country,
which included many mountain tribes, chief among which were the Sabines
and the Samnites.
Southern Italy comprised the rest of the peninsula and contained four
countries, namely, two on the western coast, Lucania and Brutium,
extending into the toe of Italy; and two on the eastern coast, Apulia
and Calabria (or Iapygia), extending into the heel of Italy.