ABSTRACT
That local cultural differences did not immediately disappear with political union was partly the result of geography, partly of the ethnic composition of
the population. Geography was most obviously important in the identification with Rome by cities in its close vicinity, whether in Latium or as far south as Campania (see Figure 5); cities within a roughly 50-mile radius of the capital were in effect included by emperors in the space in which they chose to demonstrate their power, auctoritas and beneficence. Elsewhere, there were wide differences between the indigenous cultures of the Celtic villages in the Po valley, the inhabitants of the ancient cities of Etruria, the Samnite mountain communes of the Appenines, and the Greeks of the southern maritime towns. Massive population transfers between 80 and 30 BC went some way to break down the contrasts but still left many others in situ.
