Ancient Rome : from the earliest times down to 476 A. D.

e of too rapid increase. We find them in Spain, France, Asia Minor, and especially in Sicily and Southern Italy, where the country became

il dissensions, and still more to their jealousy of each other; so that they were unable to oppose any firm and united resistance to the progress of Rome. It had bee

d which their fleet was not to pass, and the Romans bound themselves not to allow their vessels to appear in the Gulf of Tarentum

stance. As soon as domestic affairs permitted, war was declared against the Lucanians, and the wedg

o the Bay of Tarentum. It was a gala day, and the people were assembled in the theatre that overlooked the bay when the sh

insult and contempt. He replied to the mockery of the Tarentines, that their blo

in of Alexander the Great, and, since he had obtained no share in the division of the conquests of this great

disturbers of the public safety were put to death; and other reforms were made which the dangers of the situation seemed to demand. Meanwhile the Romans acted with promptness, and boldly challenged him to battle. The armies met in 280 on the plain of HERACLéA, on the

c conduct of the foe, and to have said, "Another such victory will send me back without a man to Epirus." He recognized the inferior qualities of his Greek allies, and determined to make a peace. A trusted messenger, C

refused, many seemed disposed to treat with him, when the aged APPIUS CLAUDIUS CAECUS (Bli

the Romans, and declared that the Senators wer

the armies which had been operating elsewhere were now ready to unite against him. He therefore retired into winter quarters at Tarentum, where he received the famous embassy of GAIUS FABRICIUS, sent to p

met in 279 on the plain of ASCULUM, in Apulia; but though the Romans were defeated, it

st time in 274, near BENEVENTUM, where he was defeated by the Consul MANIUS CURIOUS DENTáTUS. The Romans had by this time become accustomed to the elephants, and used burning arrows against them. The wounded b

. Two years later, in 272, the garrison at Tarentum surrende