ABSTRACT
Less than half a century after the catastrophe of the Gaulish invasion, which had so nearly proved fatal to her, Rome had regained her former position in Latium, and had indeed substantially improved it. But despite all her efforts this time, as after the Revolution of 509, she had secured only a compromise peace. Now, such a peace by its very definition satisfies neither party. The Latin problem remained in its essence unaltered. Held as in a vice between the Etruscans on the north and the Latins on the south, Rome continued to revolve in the same orbit. To acquire freedom of movement she must escape at all costs. Two possible ways of escape lay open to her: she might break out northwards by the defeat of Etruria, or southwards by the subjugation of Latium.
