between Greek and Barbarian gradually faded away, and the ancient world became ever more unified in sym- The new cospathies and aspirations. It was this mingled civili- mopolitanism zation of Orient and Occident with which the Romans were now to, come in contact, as they pushed their conquering arms beyond Italy into the eastern Mediterranean. Studies 1. On an outline map indicate the routes of Alexander, marking the principal battle fields and the most important cities founded by him. Note, also, the voyage of Nearchus. 2. On an outline map indicate the principal Hellenistic kingdoms about 200 B.C. 3. Give the proper dates for (a) accession of Alexander; (b) battle of Issus; (c) battle of Arbela; and (d) death of Alexander. 4. In what sense was Charonea a decisive battle? 5. How is it true that the expedition of the Ten Thousand forms "an epilogue to the invasion of Xerxes and a prologue to the conquests of Alexander"? 6. How much can you see and describe in the Alexander Mosaic (illustration, page 123)? 7. Compare Alexander's invasion of Persia with the invasion of Greece by Xerxes. 8. Distinguish between the immediate and the ultimate results of Alexander's conquests. 9. Comment on the following statement: "No single personality, excepting the carpenter's son of Nazareth, has done so much to make the world we live in what it is as Alexander of Macedon." 10. How did the Macedonian Empire compare in size with that of Persia? With that of Assyria? 11. What modern countries are included within the Macedonian Empire under Alexander? 12. How did the founding of the Hellenistic cities continue the earlier colonial expansion of Greece? 13. Why were the Hellenistic cities the real "backbone" of Hellenism? 14. Why do great cities rarely develop without the aid of commerce? Were all the great cities in Alexander's empire of commercial importance? 15. Show how Alexandria has always been one of the meeting points between Orient and Occident. 16. How did the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 A.D. affect the commercial importance of Alexandria? 17. Name some of the great scientists of the Alexandrian age. 18. What were their contributions to knowledge? 19. Using the maps on pages 76 and 132, trace the growth of geographical knowledge from Homer's time to that of Ptolemy. 20. What parts of the world are most correctly outlined on Ptolemy's map? 21. "The seed-ground of European civilization is neither Greece nor the Orient, but a world joined of the two." Comment on this statement. CHAPTER VII THE RISE OF ROME TO 264 B.C.1 47. Italy and Sicily THE shape of Italy is determined by the course of the Apennines. Branching off from the Alps at the gulf of Genoa, these The Apen- mountains cross the peninsula in an easterly direcnines tion, almost to the Adriatic. Here they turn sharply to the southeast and follow the coast for a considerable distance. The plains of central Italy, in consequence, are all on the western slope of the Apennines. In the lower part of the peninsula the range swerves suddenly to the southwest, so that the level land is there on the eastern side of the mountains. Near the southern extremity of Italy the Apennines separate into two branches, which penetrate the "heel and toe" of the peninsula. Italy may be conveniently divided into a northern, a central, and a southern section. These divisions, however, are deterDivisions of mined by the direction of the mountains and not, Italy as in Greece, chiefly by inlets of the sea. Northern Italy contains the important region known in ancient times as Cisalpine Gaul. This is a perfectly level plain two hundred miles in length, watered by the Po (Padus), which the Romans called the "king of rivers," because of its length and many tributary streams. Central Italy, lying south of the Apennines, includes seven districts, of which the three on the western coast-Etruria, Latium, and Campania - were most conspicuous in ancient history. Southern Italy, because of its warm climate and deeply indented coast, early attracted many Greek colonists. Their colonies here came to be known as Magna Græcia, or Great Greece. 1 Webster, Readings in Ancient History, chapter xiv, "Legends of Early Rome." Sicily The triangular-shaped island of Sicily is separated from Italy by the strait of Messina, a channel which, at the narrowest part, is only two miles wide. At one time Sicily must have been joined to the mainland. Its mountains, which rise at their highest point in the majestic volcano of Ætna, nearly eleven thousand feet above sea level, are a continuation of those of Italy. The greater part of Sicily is remarkably productive, containing rich grainfields and hillsides green with the olive and the vine. Lying in the center of the Mediterranean and in the direct route of merchants and colonists from every direction, Sicily has always been a meeting place of nations. In antiquity Greeks, Carthaginians, and Romans contended for the possession of this beautiful island. Influence of geographical conditions In the second On Italian history, as on that of Greece,1 we are able to trace the profound influence of geographical conditions. In the first place, the peninsula of Italy is not cut up by a tangle of mountains into many small districts. Hence it was easier for the Italians, than for the Greeks, to establish one large and united state. place, Italy, which has few good harbors but possesses fine mountain pastures and rich lowland plains, was better adapted to cattle raising and agriculture than was Greece. The Italian peoples, in consequence, instead of putting to sea, remained a conservative, home-staying folk, who were slow to adopt the customs of other nations. Finally, the location of Italy, with its best harbors and most numerous islands on the western coast, brought that country into closer touch with Gaul, Spain, and northwestern Africa than with Greece and the Orient. Italy fronted the barbarous West. 48. The Peoples of Italy Long before the Romans built their city by the Tiber every part of Italy had become the home of wander- Neighbors of ing peoples, attracted by the mild climate and rich the Romans soil of this favored land. Two of these peoples were neighbors 1 See page 67. |