Samnite Economy and the Competitive Environment of Italy in . the Fifth to Third Centuries bc

Abstract

It is necessary to rethink our approach to this crucial period in Roman history, and to focus on analyses which not only highlight the rivalry between the Romans and Samnites for political and military dominance, but also account for the competition over access to and control over the material resources and the economic wealth of central-eastern Italy. This chapter reviews some of the archaeological evidence, most of which strongly suggests that the level of agricultural exploitation, manufacture, and trade throughout Samnium was much greater than has traditionally been thought. It then explores how this evidence can be used to enrich our understanding of Roman expansion in this area of Italy from the fifth through third centuries BC, arguing that understanding the competitive environment within Italy and the actions such an environment fostered is a useful and compelling way to explain the events during this pivotal period in Republican history. Keywords:archaeological evidence; competitive environment; fifth century BC; Italy; Roman history; Samnite Economy; third century BC