It is now acknowledged that the struggle at Rome between the Plebeians and Patricians was a sequel and a prolongation of the war of conquest, was an effort on the part of the aristocracy of the cities conquered by Rome to share the rights of the conquering aristocracy. GUIZOT.

At last the commons attain their object. They acquire an equal share in the public offices and honors, participate in the same system of law, in the same rites of religion, and in the common fruits of conquest. The two nations coalesce into one. From this era the body politic appears to be animated with new vigor. The career of victory is no longer checked by the defection of the bulk of the people at some important crisis. MERIVALE.

The results of this great change were singularly happy and glorious. Two centuries of prosperity, harmony, and victory followed the reconciliation of the orders. Men who remembered Rome engaged in waging petty wars almost within sight of the Capitol lived to see her the mistress of Italy. — MACAULAY.

(300-200.)

THE nations of the greatest general interest and importance during this century are ROME, EGYPT, and CARTHAGE. ROME obtains the mastery over the whole Italian peninsula by the year 266 B. C. She then begins a career of foreign conquest, and adds to her territory Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, obliges Carthage to give up all her possessions outside of Africa (including possessions in the above three islands and in Spain), and Carthage herself to become a dependent ally of Rome. (See PUNIC WARS, page 59.) Towards the end of the century Rome begins the conquest of Cisalpine Gaul, and begins to interfere with the affairs of Macedonia and Greece.

EGYPT, under the first Ptolemy and his son Ptolemy Philadelphus, becomes prosperous and powerful. Alexandria becomes the seat of learning and commerce. (See page 70.)

CARTHAGE at the middle of the century is at the head of about three hundred Phoenician cities in Africa, and has possessions in Spain, Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, but by the end of the century (202 B. C.) she has given up to Rome all her possessions outside of Africa. (See PUNIC WARS.) GREECE is hereafter greatly distracted in its affairs, but keeps up a front of independence against Macedonia. (See ACHEAN LEAGUE, page 69.)

SYRIA AND THE EAST. The kingdom of the SELEUCIDE (so called from Seleucus, see map for the last century), though powerful, is of but little general interest. The kingdom of Lysimachus (Thrace and part of Asia Minor) is added in 281 B. C. Syria is invaded from Egypt in 246 B. C. A permanent loss of territory in the East is suffered by the revolt of PARTHIA about 256 B. C.

THE KINGDOM OF LYSIMACHUS (THRACE and part of ASIA MINOR) becomes part of the dominion of the Seleucidæ in 281 B. c.

PARTHIA revolts from the kingdom of the Seleucidæ about 256 B. C. EPIRUS now becomes a powerful state under Pyrrhus.