In terms of individual human lives the changes which took place in
Roman society during the six or seven centuries that elapsed between the
early Roman settlements and the reign of their Emperor Augustus were
profound and far-reaching. Many communities of diverse and often
incompatible backgrounds and interests were herded together,
helter-skelter, into the City of Rome, Latium, the Italian nucleus and
the subsequent alliances, federations, conquests, consolidations into
colonies, occupied areas, provinces and spheres of influence. The
greater the number and diversity of these interests and relationships,
the greater the probability of conflict. This empire building process
was not gradual and directed with scrupulous care to preserve the
amenities and niceties of polite social intercourse. The job was done by
and under the direction of military leaders who are traditionally in a
hurry to get results. The subordinates who carried out military
decisions were volunteer-professional soldiers, mercenary adventurers
and conscripts drawn form the four corners of the empire. As the empire
grew in extent and as its troubles multiplied, the military was more
frequently called upon to take over and iron out difficulties.

Domestically, in the city of Rome and its immediate environs, there were
several sharp lines of cleavage; between Roman citizens and
non-citizens; between the aristocracy, the bourgeoisie, the working
proletariat and the idle proletariat; between the rich and the poor;
between freeman (citizens) and the slaves who grew in numbers as the
wars of conquest and consolidation multiplied war captives; between the
civilian bureaucrats and the members of the military hierarchy.

In the brief period of maximum territorial expansion following the
defeat and destruction of Carthage, the frontiers of the Roman Empire
were pushed out ruthlessly, North, East, West and South. In the