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those who lived beyond the horizon of the nearby sea。
The mountaineers were called the Sabines。 They were a
rough crowd with an unholy desire for easy plunder。 But they
were very backward。 They used stone axes and wooden
shields and were no match for the Romans with their steel
swords。 The sea…people on the other hand were dangerous
foes。 They were called the Etruscans and they were （and
still are） one of the great mysteries of history。 Nobody knew
（or knows） whence they came； who they were； what had driven
them away from their original homes。 We have found the remains
of their cities and their cemeteries and their waterworks
all along the Italian coast。 We are familiar with their inscriptions。
But as no one has ever been able to decipher the Etruscan
alphabet； these written messages are； so far； merely annoying
and not at all useful。
Our best guess is that the Etruscans came originally from
Asia Minor and that a great war or a pestilence in that country
had forced them to go away and seek a new home elsewhere。
Whatever the reason for their coming； the Etruscans played a
great role in history。 They carried the pollen of the ancient
civilisation from the east to the west and they taught the
Romans who； as we know； came from the north； the first principles
of architecture and street…building and fighting and art
and cookery and medicine and astronomy。
But just as the Greeks had not loved their AEgean teachers；
in this same way did the Romans hate their Etruscan masters。
They got rid of them as soon as they could and the opportunity
offered itself when Greek merchants discovered the
commercial possibilities of Italy and when the first Greek
vessels reached Rome。 The Greeks came to trade； but they
stayed to instruct。 They found the tribes who inhabited the
Roman country…side （and who were called the Latins） quite
willing to learn such things as might be of practical use。 At
once they understood the great benefit that could be derived
from a written alphabet and they copied that of the Greeks。
They also understood the commercial advantages of a well…
regulated system of coins and measures and weights。 Eventually
the Romans swallowed Greek civilisation hook； line and
sinker。
They even welcomed the Gods of the Greeks to their
country。 Zeus was taken to Rome where he became known as
Jupiter and the other divinities followed him。 The Roman Gods
however never were quite like their cheerful cousins who had
accompanied the Greeks on their road through life and through
history。 The Roman Gods were State Functionaries。 Each
one managed his own department with great prudence and a
deep sense of justice； but in turn he was exact in demanding the
obedience of his worshippers。 This obedience the Romans rendered
with scrupulous care。 But they never established the
cordial personal relations and that charming friendship which
had existed between the old Hellenes and the mighty residents
of the high Olympian peak。
The Romans did not imitate the Greek form of government；
but being of the same Indo…European stock as the people
of Hellas； the early history of Rome resembles that of
Athens and the other Greek cities。 They did not find it difficult
to get rid of their kings； the descendants of the ancient
tribal chieftains。 But once the kings had been driven from
the city； the Romans were forced to bridle the power of the
nobles； and it took many centuries before they managed to
establish a system which gave every free citizen of Rome a
chance to take a personal interest in the affairs of his town。
Thereafter the Romans enjoyed one great advantage over
the Greeks。 They managed the affairs of their country without
making too many speeches。 They were less imaginative
than the Greeks and they preferred an ounce of action to a
pound of words。 They understood the tendency of the multi…
tude （the ‘‘plebe；'' as the assemblage of free citizens was called）
only too well to waste valuable time upon mere talk。 They
therefore placed the actual business of running the city into
the hands of two ‘‘consuls'' who were assisted by a council of
Elders； called the Senate （because the word ‘‘senex'' means an
old man）。 As a matter of custom and practical advantage the
senators were elected from the nobility。 But their power had
been strictly defined。
Rome at one time had passed through the same sort of
struggle between the poor and the rich which had forced
Athens to adopt the laws of Draco and Solon。 In Rome this
conflict had occurred in the fifth century B。 C。 As a result the
freemen had obtained a written code of laws which protected
them against the despotism of the aristocratic judges by the
institution of the ‘‘Tribune。'' These Tribunes were city…
magistrates； elected by the freemen。 They had the right to protect
any citizen against those actions of the government officials
which were thought to be unjust。 A consul had the right to
condemn a man to death； but if the case had not been absolutely
proved the Tribune could interfere and save the poor
fellow's life。
But when I use the word Rome； I seem to refer to a little
city of a few thousand inhabitants。 And the real strength of
Rome lay in the country districts outside her walls。 And it
was in the government of these outlying provinces that Rome
at an early age showed her wonderful gift as a colonising
power。
In very early times Rome had been the only strongly fortified
city in central Italy； but it had always offered a hospitable
refuge to other Latin tribes who happened to be in danger of
attack。 The Latin neighbours had recognised the advantages
of a close union with such a powerful friend and they had tried
to find a basis for some sort of defensive and offensive alliance。
Other nations； Egyptians； Babylonians； Phoenicians；
even Greeks； would have insisted upon a treaty of submission
on the part of the ‘‘barbarians；'' The Romans did nothing of
the sort。 They gave the ‘‘outsider'' a chance to become partners
in a common ‘‘res publica''or common…wealth。
‘‘You want to join us；'' they said。 ‘‘Very well； go ahead
and join。 We shall treat you as if you were full…fledged citizens
of Rome。 In return for this privilege we expect you to
fight for our city； the mother of us all； whenever it shall be
necessary。''
The ‘‘outsider'' appreciated this generosity and he showed
his gratitude by his unswerving loyalty。
Whenever a Greek city had been attacked； the foreign
residents had moved out as quickly as they could。 Why defend
something which meant nothing to them but a temporary
boarding house in which they were tolerated as long as they
paid their bills？ But when the enemy was before the gates
of Rome； all the Latins rushed to her defence。 It was their
Mother who was in danger。 It was their true ‘‘home'' even if
they lived a hundred miles away and had never seen the walls
of the sacred Hills。
No defeat and no disaster cou