Page:A General Sketch of Political History from the Earlist Times.djvu/93

 THE RISE OF ROME 81 held in check by the power of any tribune to interpose a veto. But outside Rome itself, the cities which have rendered her good service have been placed politically on an equal footing with the dwellers in Rome. Their citizens can cities in the vote if they choose to attend ; they are eligible for Roman State, office ; they have all the rights possessed by actual Romans, and all the obligations ; but they manage their local affairs in their own way. On the next plane are those cities which have been granted the private rights of Roman citizens, but not the political rights, while they have all the obligations. Generally they too manage their own local affairs, though in some cases they are sub- ordinated to officials appointed from Rome. All, however, can hope that loyalty will be rewarded by their being raised to the full status of Roman citizenship. They have therefore a strong inducement to loyalty. Outside these again are numerous cities which are on terms of alliance with Rome, varying in various cases. They are so far vassal states that they have no in- dependent power of making peace and war, and are liable for military service. This group is known as the Allies or Socii. With them are joined the two groups called respectively Roman and Latin colonies. A Roman colony is in effect a city in which there is a permanent garrison of Roman citizens. The Latin colonies are large settlements of Romans and Latins planted on confiscated territories, partly for military purposes, and partly as an outlet for the population. Politically, they are on the same footing as the allies. Lastly, there remain a comparatively small number of cities which are on terms of equal alliance with Rome herself. The defeat of Pyrrhus at Beneventum occurred in 275 b.c. It caused the eastern powers to recognise as they had not done before that a power of first-class importance had Egypt recog- risen up in Italy, and Ptolemy the Macedonian n i fi es Rome. King of Egypt sent an embassy to Rome. As yet, however, there was another state with which Rome had to settle accounts before involving herself with the east. The Phoenician colony of Carthage had been planted about midway along the north F