Factors that Motivated Rome to Conquer and Subject

The factors that most motivated the Romans to conquer and subject were wealth and power. The

Romans did not have a major economy until 241 BC. Due to this Romans could not move through the

wealth classes through trade alone. The only way to become wealthy was through war. This process is

best explained by how the Roman military and Political offices worked.

Every man in Rome was required to serve at least 10 years in the Military. Before the Second

Samnite War in 327BC, the Roman Military Formation was based on wealth and age. A Roman legion

consisted of four groups the velites, hastati, principes, and triarii. The velites were the youngest and

poorest soldiers in the front of the legion. The hastati were chosen from the second youngest and poorest

soldiers. The principes consisted of soldiers at their prime ages. The triarii were chosen from the oldest

soldiers. Generally, the older and wealthier a soldier became they moved further back in the formation.1

After the Second Samnite War the Romans kept the same formation, but based the formation solely on

age and experience, not wealth. This change created more social mobility. Now everyone had the chance

to move further back in line, because everyone started in the same place. Any soldier who survived 10

campaigns gained wealth and became a 2nd or 1st class status. After a Roman soldier served at least 10

years they were eligible to climb through the Cursus Honorum.

The Cursus Honorum are various political offices a Roman man can hold. Shortly after the

Licinio Sextian laws were enacted in 367BC, further legislation granted political equality to the plebians

allowing all Roman men to climb the Cursus Honorum. Roman men wanted to rise through the Cursus

Honorum until they reached the highest political office, Consul. Romans were elected into these positions

by the people based on their military achievements and household name.2 Members of the highest office

received the most spoils from war. On their way up, they served in various offices and proved both their

1
Polybius. The Histories of Polybius. Bloomington :Indiana University Press, 1962. 6.21
2 Polybius. The Histories of Polybius 6.14
military and civic worth. The factors that motivated the Romans to conquer and subject worked in a cycle

on the elite and sub-elite level. Romans wanted to rise to the level of Consul because they would gain

power and wealth. Consuls were reelected by the people every year. After there year in office their sons

and grandsons would become Nobiles, which was an elite class. These sons also strived to become

Consul to maintain wealth and for their descendants to remain Nobiles. Consuls were elected by the

people, who were the soldiers, so to become one you had to gain favor with the people. Consuls did this

by winning wars. War did not only benefit the elite, but also the Roman people.

After the Siege of Veii in 406 BC, the Roman State begun to distribute newly conquered land to

Roman people. After the first Samnite War in 343 BC Rome conquered Capua and the surrounding area

and distributed it amongst the people. “Latium and Capua were deprived of their territory. The Latin

territory, including that of Privernum, together with the Falernian, which had belonged to the Campanians

as far as the Volturnus, was distributed amongst the Roman plebs.”3 In Ancient Rome more land equaled

more cattle, crops, and slaves which equaled more wealth. Since Rome often won their campaigns, war

became very profitable for the people. In turn, the people only voted for elites who they thought would be

the most successful in their campaigns

We see this cycle play out at the start of the First Punic War in 264 BC. In 264 BC the

Mamertines and Syracuse begin to fight. Syracuse greatly reduces their forces so they ask both Carthage

and Rome for help. The Romans did not want Carthage to gain a foothold in Sicily because they would be

surrounded. The Romans debated sending aid to the Mamertines because it was unjustifiable. Shortly

before these events the Romans executed their own citizens for turning against the people of Rhegium. It

would have been inexcusable for them to aid the Mamertines who just did the same thing to Messana and

Rhegium.4 The Romans debated for a long time whether to send aid. They were ultimately convinced by

the consuls. “… they were won over when the consuls hinted not only at what I have just said about war

3 Titus Livius. The History of Rome, Vol. 2 J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., London, 1905. 8.11
4
Polybius. The Histories of Polybius 1.10
being advantageous for Rome as a whole, but also at the certainty of significant profit for each and every

one of them”5 The decision was later ratified by the people who ended up electing the consul, Appius

Claudius Caudex, who pointed out the profits to be gained from the war.6 This vicious cycle of the people

electing consuls who wanted war continued to play out throughout Romes history.

Wealth and power were key factors which motivated Rome to conquer and subject. Since war

was necessary for the elites to stay elites while also profitable for the people, Rome often went to war,

even when they didn’t necessarily need to. The slightest infraction made against Rome would motivate

them to declare war.

5 Polybius. The Histories of Polybius 1.11

6 Polybius. The Histories of Polybius 1.11