Page:A history and description of Roman political institutions (IA historyanddescri00abbo).pdf/51

Rh '''41. Foreign Affairs.''' In foreign affairs the period of the consular tribunate is one of conquest. Rome's territory was extended, and her influece over her neighbors was greatly strengthened. These successes were due partly to the rapid growth of Rome and to the improvement in her domestic policy, partly to the weakening of her enemies and rivals. The brilliant victories of M. Camillus over the Volsci and Aequi in 389, followed by successes in subsequent years, broke the power of both peoples, who were already hard pressed by the inroads of the Sabellians. Paradoxical as it may seem, even the invasion of the Kelts, which led to the capture of Rome in 390 (or 387?), was of permanent advantage to the city. The losses which Etruria suffered from the Kelts, following closely, as they did, on the fall of Veii in 396, made it easy for Rome to extend her control over souther Etruria. Rome's old allies, the Latins and Hernici, became jealous of her growing power, and, availing themselves of the confusion which followed the Keltic invasion, Praenesta, Tibur, and other naighboring communities took up arms against her. They were quickly conquered, and in the new treaty, which was made in 358 between the Latin communities and Rome, the former probably lost their position as coequal members of the confederacy. These successful wars had a direct and indirect effect on internal politics in many ways. Among the direct effects were the establishment of four new tribes, — the Stellatina, Tromentina, Sabatina, and Arnensis in 387 in southern Etruria, — and, to pass for a mooment beyond the period we are considering, the addition of two new tribes, the Publilia and Pomptina, in Volscian territory.