hich followed 265 B. C.
through the opportunities it brought for the exploitation of subject
peoples. Roman commerce, too, had spread with the extension of Roman
political influence. The exclusion of senators from direct participation
in these ventures led to the rise of a numerous, wealthy and influential
class whose interests differed from and often ran counter to those of the
senatorial order. In general they supported an aggressive foreign policy,
with the ruthless exploitation of conquered peoples, and they were
powerful enough to influence the destruction of Carthage and Corinth. In
the course of the second century this class developed into a distinct
order in the state--the equestrians. Since the Roman cavalry had
practically ceased to serve in the field, the term _equites_ came to be
applied to all those whose property would have permitted their serving as
cavalry at their own expense. The majority of these was formed by the
business class, although under the name of equestrians were still included
such members of the senatorial families as had not yet held office.

*The new scale of living.* In the course of their campaigns in Sicily,
Africa, Greece, and Asia Minor, the Romans came into close contact with a
civilization older and higher than their own, where the art of living was
practised with a refinement and elegance unknown in Latium. In this
respect the conquerors showed themselves only too ready to learn from the
conquered, and all the luxurious externals of culture were transplanted to
Rome. But the old Periclean motto, "refinement without extravagance," did
not appeal to the Romans who, like typical _nouveaux riches_ vied with one
another in the extravagant display of their wealth. The simple Roman house
with its one large _atrium_, serving at once as kitchen, living room, and
bed chamber, was completely transformed. The _atrium_ became a pillared
reception hall, special rooms were added for the various phases of
domestic life; in the rear of the _atrium_ arose a Greek peristyle
courtyard, and the house was filled with costly sculptures and other works
of art, plundered or purchased in the cities of Hellas. Banquets were
served on silver plate and exhibited the rarest and costliest dishes. The
homes of the wealthy were thronged with retinues of slaves, each specially
trained for some particular task; the looms of the East supplied garments
of delicate texture. A wide gulf yawned between the life of the ri