Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/453

 B. vi. c. iv. $ 2. THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 439 turned to complete the conquest of the people dwelling along the Po. While this war was still in hand Hannibal entered Italy, 1 thus the second war against the Carthaginians ensued, and after a very short interval the third, in which Carthage was demolished. 2 At the same time the Romans became masters of Africa, 3 and of such portions of Spain as they won from the Carthaginians. Both the Greeks and the Macedo- nians, and the nations of Asia who dwelt on the hither side of the river Kisil-Irmak 4 and the Taurus, took part in these struggles with the Carthaginians: over these Antiochus 5 was king, and Philip and Perseus, 6 these therefore the Romans found themselves obliged to subdue. The people likewise of Illyria and Thrace, who were next neighbours to the Greeks and Macedonians, at this time commenced the war with the Romans that never ceased, until the subjugation of all the people who inhabit the countries on the hither side of the Danube 7 and the Kisil-Irmak 4 had been effected. The Iberians, and Kelts, and all the rest who are subject to the Romans, shared a similar fate, for the Romans never rested in the subjugation of the land to their sway until they had en- tirely overthrown it : in the first instance they took Numantia, 8 and subdued Viriathus, 9 and afterwards vanquished Sertorius, 10 and last of all the Cantabrians, 11 who were brought to subjec- tion by Augustus Cassar. 12 Likewise the whole of Gaul both within and beyond the Alps with Liguria were annexed at first by a partial occupation, but subsequently divus Caesar and then Augustus subdued them completely in open war, so that now 13 the Romans direct their expeditions against the er- mans from these countries as the most convenient rendezvous, and have already adorned their own country with several triumphs over them. Also in Africa all that did not belong to the Carthaginians has been left to the charge of kings owning dependence on the Roman state, while such as have attempted to assert their independence have been overpowered. At the present moment both Maurusia and much of the rest 1 218 B. c. 2 146 B. c. 3 Aifivij. * The ancient Halys. 5 Antiochus ceded Asia Minor in the year B. c. 189, 6 Perseus was taken in the year B. c. 167. 7 Ister. 8 In the year B. c. 133. 9 In the year B. c. 140. 10 B. c. 72. The inhabitants of Biscay. l2 B. c. 19. 13 About A. D. 17 or 18.