aly, where the country became so
thoroughly Grecianized that it was called MAGNA GRAECIA. Here were many
flourishing cities, as Tarentum, Sybaris, Croton, and Thurii. These had,
at the time of their contact with Rome, greatly fallen from their former
grandeur, owing partly to the inroads of barbarians from the north,
partly to civil 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 been their custom to rely largely upon
strangers for the recruiting and management of their armies,--a fact
which explains in part the ease with which they were overcome.

Of these cities TARENTUM was now the chief. With it a treaty had been
made by which the Tarentines agreed to certain limits beyond which their
fleet was not to pass, and the Romans bound themselves not to allow
their vessels to appear in the Gulf of Tarentum beyond the Lacinian
promontory. As usual, the Romans found no difficulty in evading their
treaty whenever it should profit them.

Thurii was attacked by the Lucanians, and, despairing of aid from
Tarentum, called on Rome for assistance. As soon as domestic affairs
permitted, war was declared against the Lucanians, and the wedge was
entered which was to separate Magna Graecia from Hellas, and deliver the
former over to Rome.

Pretending that the war was instigated by Tarentum, Rome decided to
ignore the treaty, and sent a fleet of ten vessels into the Bay of
Tarentum. It was a gala day, and the people were assembled in the
theatre that overlooked the bay when the ships appeared. It was
determined to punish the intrusion. A fleet was manned, and four of the
Roman squadron were destroyed.

An ambassador, Postumius, sent by Rome to demand satisfaction, was
treated with insult and contempt. He replied to the mockery of the
Tarentines, that their blood should wash out the stain. The next year
one of the Consuls was ordered south.

Meanwhile Tarentum had sent envoys to ask aid of PYRRHUS, the young and
ambitious KING OF EPIRUS. He was cousin of Alexander the Great, and,
since he had obtained no share in the division of the conquests of this
great leader, his dream was to found an empire in the West that would
surpass the exhausted monarchies of the East.

Pyrrhus landed in Italy in 281 with a force of 20,000 infantry,
3,000 cavalry, and 20 elephants. He at once set about compelling the
effeminate Greeks to prepar