Rome?

[Beefy187]

Some book i read said Rome became powerful because Rome made other countries they conquered part of Romans if that make sense (Not very good at English sorry)
Athens and Spartans only gave their citizen ship to true Athenians and Spartans. But Romans gave their citizenship to everybody. So all the Roman allied state were soo close together and rarely betrayed the Romans.

Also Roman military were great because they adapted any tactic they thought its useful (Pilas from Samnite, Celtic formation, Gladius sword from spain) Also Scipio Africanus adapted Hannibals tactic which was also great fighting falanx baced Easterns and fanatic barbarians. Also Rome had one of the greatest infantry (especially after Marian reform) and had access to greatest cavarly after Punic war (Numidian cavarly and Gallic mercenaries)

Their republican system worked well in the first half and some of the emperors was great.

If that helps.. I got a crappy grammer i know.

[LordCurlyton]

I always figured it was like Keravnos said; they generally knew how to get there the fastest with the mostest, and if things did hit the proverbial fan, they generally retreated in good order.

[kalkwerk]

It has a lot to do with their geographical position in the middle of the mediterranean. this is why the war with carthage became so important too, as both cities had the same advantage in this respect.

[Son of Perun]

Also Roman military were great because they adapted any tactic they thought its useful (Pilas from Samnite, Celtic formation, Gladius sword from spain)

Weren't the pilas from Etruscans?

[Beefy187]

I thought its Saminite..
Well I need to go study alot more then

[Xehh II]

So, did Romans actually invent anything for themselves?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Not really, hand pumps, water wheels and concrete, technological developements of Greek or Punic ideas probably carried further by those same peoples under Roman rule.

Latium itself is not really good land for farming or raising horses. In the First Punic War the Romans were about matched by the Carthaginians and in many ways the war was really a draw. Hanabal lost because the Carthaginian Senate refused to send him extra soldiers and money to prosecute the war.

[Watchman]

Weren't the pilas from Etruscans?

A common enough weapon design in Italy at the time AFAIK. I've read they've found early examples in Etruscan contexts too. By what I've read of it it also took a while before the business end of the pilum developed into its best-known slim form in Roman use - the early types could have fairly substantial and often barbed tips, which no doubt also helped them remain stuck in shields.