(241-218).
Twenty-three years elapsed between the First and Second Punic Wars.
The Carthaginians were engaged during the first part of this time in
crushing a mutiny of their mercenary troops.
Rome, taking advantage of the position in which her rival was placed,
seized upon SARDINIA and CORSICA, and, when Carthage objected,
threatened to renew the war, and obliged her to pay more than one
million dollars as a fine (237).
The acquisition of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica introduced into the
government of Rome a new system; viz. the PROVINCIAL SYSTEM.
Heretofore the two chief magistrates of Rome, the Consuls, had exercised
their functions over all the Roman possessions. Now Sicily was made
what the Romans called a _provincia_, or PROVINCE. Sardinia and Corsica
formed another province (235).
Over each province was placed a Roman governor, called Proconsul. For
this purpose two new Praetors were now elected, making four in all. The
power of the governor was absolute; he was commander in chief, chief
magistrate, and supreme judge.
The finances of the provinces were intrusted to one or more QUAESTORS.
All the inhabitants paid as taxes into the Roman treasury one tenth
of their produce, and five per cent of the value of their imports and
exports. They were not obliged to furnish troops, as were the dependants
of Rome in Italy.
The provincial government was a fruitful source of corruption. As the
morals of the Romans degenerated, the provinces were plundered without
mercy to enrich the coffers of the avaricious governors.
The Adriatic Sea at this time was overrun by Illyrican pirates, who did
much damage. Satisfaction was demanded by Rome of Illyricum, but to no
purpose. As a last resort, war was declared, and the sea was cleared of
the pirates in 229.
"The results of this Illyrican war did not end here, for it was the
means of establishing, for the first time, direct political relations
between Rome and the states of Greece, to many of which the suppression
of piracy was of as much importance as to Rome herself. Alliances
were concluded with CORCYRA, EPIDAMNUS, and APOLLONIA; and embassies
explaining the reasons which had brought Roman troops into Greece were
sent to the Aetolians and Achaeans, to Athens and Corinth. The admission
of the Romans to the Isthmian Games in 228 formally acknowledged them as
the allies of the Greek states."
The Romans now began to look with hungry eyes upon GALLIA CISALPINA. The
appetite for conquest was well whetted. There had been peace with the
Gauls since the battle of Lake Vadimonis in 283. The _ager publicus_,
taken from the Gauls then, was still mostly unoccupied. In 232 the
Tribune Gaius Flaminius (Footnote: Gaius Flaminius, by his agrarian laws
gained the bitter hatred of the nobility. He was the first Governor of
Sicily, and there showed himself to be a man of integrity and honesty,
a great contrast to many who succeeded him.) carried an agrarian law,
to the effect that this land be given to the veterans and the poorer
classes. The law was executed, and colonies planted. To the Gauls
this seemed but the first step to the occupation of the whole of their
country. They all rose in arms except the Cenomani.
This contest continued for ten years, and in 225 Etruria was invaded by
an army of 70,000 men. The plans of the invaders, however, miscarried,
and they were hemmed in between two Roman armies near TELAMON in 222,
and annihilated. The Gallic king was slain at the hands of the Consul
MARCUS CLAUDIUS MARCELLUS. PAGE 61 Rome was now mistress of the whole
peninsula of Italy, excepting some tribes in Liguria, who resisted a
short time longer.
Three _military_ (Latin) colonies were founded to hold the Gauls in
check; PLACENTIA and CREMONA in the territory of the Insubres, and
MUTINA in that of the Boii. The _Via Flaminia_, the great northern road,
was extended from SPOLETIUM to ARIMINUM. (Footnote: During this period
the _Comitia Centuriata_ was reorganized on the basis of tribes (35)
instead of money.)
Meanwhile Carthage was not idle. After subduing the revolt of the
mercenaries in 237, she formed the project of obtaining SPAIN as
compensation for the loss of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica. Hamilcar
Barca, by energetic measures, established (236-228) a firm foothold in
Southern and Southeastern Spain.
At his death, his son-in-law, Hasdrubal, continued his work. Many towns
were founded, trade prospered, and agriculture flourished. The discovery
of rich silver mines near Carthago Nova was a means of enriching the
treasury. After the assassination of Hasdrubal, in 220, the ablest
leader was Hannibal, son of Hamilcar. Although a young man of but
twenty-eight, he had had a life of varied experience. As a boy he had
shown great courage and ability in camp under his father. He was a fine
athlete, well educated in the duties of a soldier, and could endure
long privation of sleep and food. For the last few years he had been
in command of the cavalry, and had distinguished himself for personal
bravery, as well as by his talents as a leader.
Hannibal resolved to begin the inevitable struggle with Rome at once.
He therefore laid siege to Saguntum, a Spanish town allied to Rome. In
eight months the place was compelled to capitulate (219).
When Rome demanded satisfaction of Carthage for this insult, and
declared herself ready for war, the Carthaginians accepted the
challenge, and the Second Punic War began in 218.