History of Rome | Page 5

were Fun'di, Anx'ur or Terraci'na, Ar'pinum,
Mintur'næ, and For'miæ.
22. CAMPA'NIA included the fertile volcanic plains that lie between
the Liris on the north, and the Si'lanus, Selo, on the south; the other
most remarkable river was the Voltur'nus, Volturno. The chief cities
were, Ca'pua the capital, Linter'num, Cu'mæ, Neapo'lis, _Naples_;
Hercula'neum, Pompe'ii, Surren'tum, Saler'num, &c. The original
inhabitants of Campa'nia, were the Auso'nes and Op'ici or Osci, the
most ancient of the native Italian tribes. The Tyrrhenian Pelas'gi made
several settlements on the coast, and are supposed to have founded
Cap'ua. The Etruscans were afterwards masters of the country, but their
dominion was of brief duration, and left no trace behind. Campa'nia
was subdued by the Romans after the Volscian war.
23. The soil of Campa'nia is the most fruitful, perhaps, in the world, but
it is subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Mount Vesu'vius in
the early ages of Italy was not a volcano; its first eruption took place
A.D. 79.
24. UM'BRIA extended along the middle and east of Italy, from the

river Rubicon in the north, to the Æ'sis, Gesano, dividing it from
Pise'num, and the Nar, Nera, separating it from Sam'nium in the south.
The Umbrians were esteemed one of the most ancient races in Italy,
and were said to have possessed the greater part of the northern and
central provinces. They were divided into several tribes, which seem to
have been semi-barbarous, and they were subject to the Gauls before
they were conquered by the Romans. Their chief towns were
Arimi'nium, _Rimini_; Spole'tium, _Spoleto_; Nar'nia, _Narni_; and
Ocricu'lum, Otriculi.
25. PICE'NUM was the name given to the fertile plain that skirts the
Adriatic, between the Æ'sis, Gesano, and the Atar'nus, Pescara. The
chief cities were Anco'na and Asc'ulum Pice'num, Ascoli. The
Picentines were descended from the Sabines, and observed the strict
and severe discipline of that warlike race, but they were destitute of
courage or vigour.
26. SAM'NIUM included the mountainous tract which stretches from
the Atar'nus in the north, to the Fren'to in the south. It was inhabited by
several tribes descended from the Sabines[3] and Ma'rsi, of which the
Samnites were the most distinguished; the other most remarkable septs
were the Marruci'ni and Pelig'ni in the north, the Frenta'ni in the east,
and the Hirpi'ni in the south.
27. The Samnites were distinguished by their love of war, and their
unconquerable attachment to liberty; their sway at one time extended
over Campa'nia, and the greater part of central Italy; and the Romans
found them the fiercest and most dangerous of their early enemies. The
chief towns in the Samnite territory were Alli'fæ, Beneventum, and
Cau'dium.
28. Lower Italy was also called Magna Græ'cia, from the number of
Greek[4] colonies that settled on the coast; it comprised four countries;
Luca'nia and Brut'tium on the west, and Apu'lia and Cala'bria on the
east.
29. LUCA'NIA was a mountainous country between the Sil'arus, Selo,
on the north, and the Lä'us, Lavo, on the south. The Lucanians were of

Sabine origin, and conquered the Oenotrians, who first possessed the
country: they also subdued several Greek cities on the coast. The chief
cities were Posido'nia or Pæstum, He'lia or Ve'lia, Sib'aris and Thu'rii.
30. Brut'tium is the modern Cala'bria, and received that name when the
ancient province was wrested from the empire. It included the tongue
of land from the river Läus to the southern extremity of Italy at
Rhe'gium. The mountains of the interior were inhabited by the Bruta'tes
or Brut'tii, a semi-barbarous tribe, at first subject to the Sibarites, and
afterwards to the Lucanians. In a late age they asserted their
independence, and maintained a vigorous resistance to the Romans. As
the Brut'tii used the Oscan language, they must have been of the
Ausonian race. The chief towns were the Greek settlements on the
coast, Consen'tia, _Cosenza_; Pando'sia, _Cirenza_; Croto'na,
Mame'rtum, Petil'ia, and Rhe'gium, Reggio.
31. Apu'lia extended along the eastern coast from the river Fren'to, to
the eastern tongue of land which forms the foot of the boot, to which
Italy has been compared. It was a very fruitful plain, without fortresses
or harbours, and was particularly adapted to grazing cattle. It was
divided by the river Au'fidus, Ofanto, into Apu'lia Dau'nia, and Apu'lia
Peuce'tia, or pine-bearing Apu'lia. The chief towns were, in Dau'nia,
Sipon'tum and Luce'ria: in Peuce'tia, Ba'rium, Can'næ, and Venu'sia.
32. Cala'bria, or Messa'pia, is the eastern tongue of land which
terminates at Cape Japy'gium, _Santa Maria_; it was almost wholly
occupied by Grecian colonies. The chief towns were Brundu'sium,
_Brindisi_: Callipolis, _Gallipoli_: and Taren'tum.
33. The islands of Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia, which are now
reckoned as appertaining to Italy, were by the Romans considered
separate provinces.
Questions for Examination.
1. How is Italy situated?
2. By what names was the country