How was the Roman model of conquest between 509 BCE and 26 BCE different from most other cities?

Answer 1

Imperial expansion occurred as a result of Rome winning separate wars which were fought for different reasons and at different times. It was a process which occurred over 300 years of wars (from the First War, 343-341 BC) and was not the product of any design or model of conquest and expansion. In fact, the Roman Republic was unable to cope with imperial expansion and it became dysfunctional and, ultimately, a failed state. In short, the Roman Republic fell under the strain of imperial expansion.

Answer 2

The Romans did not have a model of conquest. During the mentioned period (from the establishemnt of the Roman Republic) to the year before the Fist Punic War) Rome gained control of most of Italy. However, most of this was not achieved through conquest. Only the territories of the Aequi, Sabines, the Praetutii and the Senone Gauls were conquered. Rome's policy was one of control, rather than conquest. They gained control over central Italy though military alliances (with the Marsi, Paeligni, Marrucini, Vestini, Frentani, Samnites, Lucanians and some city-states in northern Apulia). They had to supply soldiers who fought in auxiliary troops which supported the Roman legions at their expense. The system worked because Rome supported the ruling elites of these peoples and shared the spoils of war, which could be considerable. The allies supplied at least 60% of the pool military manpower available to Rome. This was probably the largest pool in the Mediterranean and made Rome a Mediterranean power. The policy of alliances was determined by expediency. Rome chose to leave the peoples of central and southern Italy autonomous and try to get on with their elites and to integrate them into their world. Allied town leaders who were loyal to Rome were granted Roman citizenship as a reward. Trying to conquer these peoples would have been costly and risky. There could be the risk of rebellions and the allies outnumbered the Romans. This way Rome maintained stability and control and increased her military manpower.

Another means the Romans used to gain control was the creation of colonies (settlements ) in strategic areas. The inhabitants of the settlements could inform Rome if there was trouble in their areas and provided troops which gave a first line of defence before the arrival of the legions from Rome. Rome used this in the areas on many of their allies and beyong. She ended the wars with the Etruscans and gained control over Etruria by seizing parts of it territories to weaken it and setting up colonies. Rome did not even try to force the Etruscan city states to become allies. |Similarly, when Rome gained control of central and southern Apulia and Calabria in southern Italy, she did not annex them. Instead she ensured control with the establishment of colonies.