Samnite wars
Samnite warsA succession of wars fought between the southern neighbours of Rome, the Samnites and the Latins. The first war ( 343 – 341 BC ) was brief, but the second ( 326 – 304 ) was more protracted. Roman troops experienced the humiliation of having to walk like slaves under a yoke of spears after their defeat at the Caudine Forks. The Appian Way was begun in 312 to assist communications between Rome and the war area. Gauls joined against Rome in the third of the wars ( 298 – 290 ), but were defeated. The Samnites were consistently hostile to Rome. They helped Hannibal in the second Punic War and revolted for the last time...
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