Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/142

128 III. The Consequences of the Second Punic War.

Loss of Life and Wealth in the Second Punic War. — The economic losses during the second Punic war were incalculable. Numbers of prosperous regions were utterly ruined, and the capital that had been accumulated for generations was consumed or destroyed.

It was far more disastrous, however, that the population no longer sufficed to build up the country anew. The terrible loss of life is to some extent indicated by the census lists. The number of citizens able to bear arms was two hundred and seventy thousand in 234, and probably exceeded three hundred thousand in 219; but instead of increasing, it had fallen to two hundred and fourteen thousand in 204. This and the subsequent census numbers, moreover, include all assessed at from $88 to $242 — quite an important addition. In view of these facts, the estimate that three hundred thousand Italians lost their lives in the war does not seem exaggerated.

Decline of National Character. — The saddest and most important consequence of all was a perceptible decline in the character of the Roman people. Never did the Romans again show such patriotism and self-sacrifice, such firmness in critical times, such recognition of, and loyalty and obedience to, the best men, even when they were severe, harsh, and unpopular. Nor did the governing class, as represented by the senate, again display such energy and such military and administrative ability. The great losses, the camp life, the pillage of cities, and the thousand evil influences of a great war, had undermined the habits and corrupted the morals of the Romans and the other Italians.

The Nobility Becomes an Oligarchy. — The material and moral consequences of the war led to changes in the