Discover how Rome went from a modest city to dominating Italy through cooperation rather than conquest. Explore societal and cultural transformations, the rise of the Roman Republic, strategic expansion, and the emergence of formidable opponents like the Samnites.
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Sacred Grove Diplomacy
The episode opens with a scene of Latins meeting at a sacred grove before campaigning season.
Aristocrats from Rome and neighboring towns negotiated marriages, trade, and where they would march to war.
insights INSIGHT
Cooperation Over Conquest
Rome's rise in 4th century BC owed more to cooperation than pure conquest.
Patrick Wyman argues incorporation, not annihilation, powered expansion across Italy.
insights INSIGHT
Incorporation As Policy
The Roman expansion often used peaceful incorporation like citizenship grants and elite ties.
Wyman emphasizes legal status and elite networks scaled Roman influence without full administrative control.
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At the beginning of the 4th century BC, Rome was still not the dominant force in Latium, the small region surrounding the city; by the end of that century, Rome was the dominant power in all of Italy. How did that happen? The answer lies not so much in conquest as cooperation.
Patrick's book is now available! Get The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World in hardcopy, ebook, or audiobook (read by Patrick) here: https://bit.ly/PWverge. And check out Patrick's new podcast The Pursuit of Dadliness! It’s all about “Dad Culture,” and Patrick will interview some fascinating guests about everything from tall wooden ships to smoked meats to comfortable sneakers to history, sports, culture, and politics. https://bit.ly/PWtPoD
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Tides of History