he
town was made a MUNICIPIUM, the first of its kind.

The inhabitants, being of foreign blood and language, were not allowed
the full rights of Roman citizenship, but were permitted to govern their
own city in local matters as they wished. Many towns were subsequently
made MUNICIPIA. Their inhabitants were called CIVES SINE SUFFRAGIO,
"citizens without suffrage."

During the next ten years (353-343) Rome subdued all the lowland
countries as far south as TARRACINA. To the north, across the Tiber, she
had acquired most of the territory belonging to VEII and CAPENA.

In 354 she formed her first connections beyond the Liris, by a treaty
with the SAMNITES, a race that had established itself in the mountainous
districts of Central Italy. This people, spreading over the southern
half of Italy, had in 423 captured the Etruscan city of CAPUA, and
three years later the Greek city of CUMAE. Since then they had been
practically masters of the whole of Campania.

After the treaty of 354 mentioned above, both the Romans and Samnites
had, independently of each other, been waging war upon the Volsci. The
Samnites went so far as to attack Teanum, a city of Northern Campania,
which appealed to Capua for aid. The Samnites at once appeared before
Capua, and she, unable to defend herself, asked aid of Rome.

Alarmed at the advances of the Samnites, Rome only awaited an excuse to
break her treaty. This was furnished by the Capuans surrendering their
city unconditionally to Rome, so that, in attacking the Samnites, she
would simply be defending her subjects.

Thus began the SAMNITE WARS, which lasted for over half a century with
varying success, and which were interrupted by two truces. It is usual
to divide them into three parts, the First, Second, and Third Samnite
Wars.

THE FIRST SAMNITE WAR (343-341).

The accounts of this war are so uncertain and confused that no clear
idea of its details can be given. It resulted in no material advantage
to either side, except that Rome retained Capua and made it a
_municipium_, annexing its territory to her own.

THE LATIN WAR (340-338).

The cities of the LATIN CONFEDERACY had been for a long time looking
with jealous eyes upon the rapid progress of Rome. Their own rights had
been disregarded, and they felt that they must now make a stand or lose
everything. They sent to Rome a proposition that one of the Consuls and
half of the Senate be Latins; but it was rejected. A war followed,