How did Romes allies help it expand?

Answer 1

When Rome expanded into central and southern Italy in the 4th and early 3rd centuries BC, she did not conquer the Italic peoples of these areas. She made alliances with them. These allies were required to supply soldiers for Rome at their expense. The allies were willing to do this due to Rome's superior power and, especially, because Rome shared the spoils of war with them, which could be considerable. This was an economic incentive for them to fight with Rome.

It has been estimated that in the 3rd century BC, the allies provided 60% of the potential military manpower available to Rome. This level of manpower was unmatched anywhere else in the Mediterranean. It meant that a fight against Rome was not just a war against her, but also against the peoples of central and southern Italy. This large manpower played a crucial role in defeating both the attempt by king Pyrrhus of Epirus to invade Italy in the Pyrrhic War (280-275 BC) and Hannibal's invasion of Italy in the Second Punic War (218-202 BC). The Punic Wars were the beginning of Rome's expansion beyond Italy. The allied troops also helped with further expansion.

The allies supplied auxiliary troops which supported the Roman legions and provided light infantry skirmishers and the bulk of the cavalry.

Answer 2

When Rome expanded into central and southern Italy in the 4th and early 3rd centuries BC, she did not conquer the Italic peoples of these areas. She made alliances with them. These allies were required to supply soldiers for Rome at their expense. The allies were willing to do this due to Rome's superior power and, especially, because Rome shared the spoils of war with them, which could be considerable. This was an economic incentive for them to fight with Rome.

It has been estimated that in the 3rd century BC, the allies provided 60% of the potential military manpower available to Rome. This level of manpower was unmatched anywhere else in the Mediterranean. It meant that a fight against Rome was not just a war against her, but also against the peoples of central and southern Italy. This large manpower played a crucial role in defeating both the attempt by king Pyrrhus of Epirus to invade Italy in the Pyrrhic War (280-275 BC) and Hannibal's invasion of Italy in the Second Punic War (218-202 BC). The Punic Wars were the beginning of Rome's expansion beyond Italy. The allied troops also helped with further expansion.

The allies supplied auxiliary troops which supported the Roman legions and provided light infantry skirmishers and the bulk of the cavalry.