EEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PUNIC WARS
(241-218).

Twenty-three years elapsed between the First and Second Punic Wars.
The Carthaginians were engaged during the first part of this time in
crushing a mutiny of their mercenary troops.

Rome, taking advantage of the position in which her rival was placed,
seized upon SARDINIA and CORSICA, and, when Carthage objected,
threatened to renew the war, and obliged her to pay more than one
million dollars as a fine (237).

The acquisition of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica introduced into the
government of Rome a new system; viz. the PROVINCIAL SYSTEM.

Heretofore the two chief magistrates of Rome, the Consuls, had exercised
their functions over all the Roman possessions. Now Sicily was made
what the Romans called a _provincia_, or PROVINCE. Sardinia and Corsica
formed another province (235).

Over each province was placed a Roman governor, called Proconsul. For
this purpose two new Praetors were now elected, making four in all. The
power of the governor was absolute; he was commander in chief, chief
magistrate, and supreme judge.

The finances of the provinces were intrusted to one or more QUAESTORS.
All the inhabitants paid as taxes into the Roman treasury one tenth
of their produce, and five per cent of the value of their imports and
exports. They were not obliged to furnish troops, as were the dependants
of Rome in Italy.

The provincial government was a fruitful source of corruption. As the
morals of the Romans degenerated, the provinces were plundered without
mercy to enrich the coffers of the avaricious governors.

The Adriatic Sea at this time was overrun by Illyrican pirates, who did
much damage. Satisfaction was demanded by Rome of Illyricum, but to no
purpose. As a last resort, war was declared, and the sea was cleared of
the pirates in 229.

"The results of this Illyrican war did not end here, for it was the
means of establishing, for the first time, direct political relations
between Rome and the states of Greece, to many of which the suppression
of piracy was of as much importance as to Rome herself. Alliances
were concluded with CORCYRA, EPIDAMNUS, and APOLLONIA; and embassies
explaining the reasons which had brought Roman troops into Greece were
sent to the Aetolians and Achaeans, to Athens and Corinth. The admission
of the Romans to the Isthmian Games in 228 formally acknowledged them as
the allies of the Greek states."

The Romans now began to look with