Maritsa Cardona

CLA 10C

Paper 2

13 November 2017

Along with new lands and new wealth, Roman expansion gained new peoples to increase

their population and army. During early conquest, the conquered peoples would be granted

citizenship equal to Roman citizens. However, towards the second century, the Romans did not

take into account how unfair they were to their newly conquered lands. It seems as though the

Romans thought that because they were quickly gaining land and power, the Italic allies would

act obediently to Rome. This mind frame would later come back to haunt them as in view of the

fact that a whole civil conflict could have been avoided.

When Rome began its quest to conquer land, most of those who were conquered were

given seemingly acceptable terms. After the Latin War, many of the peoples became Roman

citizens and the land became Roman territory. They were able to keep their old civic

organization, the local equivalent of a senate, and practice their religious rights, with limited

freedom of course (BHR, 43). However, Rome also had to instill fear into those who might want

to right up against them. Some of the defeated communities had penalties placed on them if they

fought too hard or resisted too long, including but not limited to, confiscating land or enslaving

those who lived there (BHR, 45). Rome was building good relations with its new citizens, but

also had examples of what would happen if a community decided to rise up. Besides resentment

and revenge for conquering the land, it seemed like a majority of those conquered in the Latin

Wars should not have a strong need to retaliate.

 About a century later the treatment of the allies changed dramatically from the Latin

Wars. The allies, Italic and Latin, suffered the burden of Roman warfare unfairly more than

Rome did itself and received small amounts of profit during the second century. The Roman

armies varied between equal distribution and two allies for each Roman (BHR 79). Rome began

using its allies more than its own citizens for Rome’s own gain. The allies are the ones battling

for Rome but saw little to no spoils from their victories.

Instead, Rome and those in power would use the wealth that the allies helped acquire to

beautify the Roman cities and display status. Rome’s beauty was being enhanced with Greek-

influenced structures and art. The wealthy Romans built elaborate private houses, monuments,

and private buildings (BHR, 81). Leaders such as M. Fulvius Nobilior would try to assert

position through large scale projects like his Temple of Hercules Musarum This use of spoils

would only infuriate the rage and frustration of the allies as “citizens” of Rome.

It wasn’t until Marcus Livius Drusus proposed a deal to try to get the Italian allies the

same citizen rights as Romans that the allies themselves decided to take action. When the allies’

hopes of Roman citizenship were crushed when Drusus was unsuccessful with the Roman

legislation some decided that they would form a confederation (BHR, 107). The allies knew that

there was no way to overthrow Rome, but they were going to make their efforts and demand

known to those in power. During 90 BC because the attack surprised Rome the rebels were able

to inflict some severe defeats and capture Roman strongholds before the Roman commanders got

the best of them (BHR, 108). In the end, those who fought against the rebels, and eventually

those in it as well, got the citizenship they wanted, so long as they were not hostile.

When starting the growth of their empire Rome had treated the Latins as future Romans,

and doing so ensured loyalty to Rome. However, by having burdens from war thrown on you,
being treated as a lesser citizen of Rome, and watching as the leaders the army you fought in

flaunt the spoils as your community receives none, that loyalty did not have the chance to

flourish with later conquered allies. Blinded by the success of overcoming new regions and

attaining more power, Rome and its leaders neglected that their Italian allies would revolt against

the unfair circumstances forced upon them.