slaves. The conquered people of Italy were referred to as 'Allies' of the Roman Republic.
             The 'allies' of Rome enjoyed a certain level of autonomy. These city states were locally governed (often by the existing rulers), and their relationship with Rome entitled them to protection by Roman armies, the rights of justice through the Roman courts, and many other benefits enjoyed by true Roman citizens. Allies, of course, could not vote, but this was of little concern, since many of them lived too far from Rome to vote, anyway. Breasted brings out a very important point, ". . . Rome wisely granted the different cities very different rights and laid upon them highly varied restrictions. Thus no two cities were likely to feel the same grievances or make common cause against the Roman rule of Italy." Rome gave the city states of Italy a certain feeling of independence, although in reality it was veiled subjugation. Regardless as to the true autonomy of these conquered peoples, they at least learned to accept Roman rule, and so Italy was finally united. Rome gave them a common tongue-- Latin, through which all political affairs were administered. But it also gave them a common culture- Greek, which had been borrowed and spread from the Greek colonies in Southern Italy. The assimilation of Greek culture into the fledgling Roman Empire was an important event, indeed. The peoples of the ancient world already knew and admired Greek thought and history. Alexander had succeeded in spreading it throughout the east, and Rome took advantage of this fact. By using this cultural foundation upon which to build its empire, it was making itself compatible with the larger and much more ancient eastern world. This would be of greater significance later on.
             Rome gradually spread itself out upon the world. Unlike Alexander, Rome was reluctant to become too large too fast, the impossible mission which likely led to the instability...