in barbarism.

In 105 the peninsula was overrun by the Cimbri, a barbarous race from
the north. The country was ravaged, but finally saved by the brave
Celtibéri, who forced the invaders back into Gaul.

THE SERVILE WAR (134-132).

While the Numantine war was still in progress, a war with the slaves
broke out in Sicily, where they had been treated with special
barbarity.

For a long time slave labor had been taking the place of that of
freemen. The supply was rendered enormous by constant wars, and by the
regular slave trade carried on with the shores of the Black Sea and
Greece. The owners of the slaves became an idle aristocracy.

The immediate cause of the outbreak in Sicily was the cruelty of a
wealthy slave-owner, Damophilus. The leader of the slaves was EUNUS,
who pretended to be a Syrian prophet. A number of defeats were
suffered by the Roman armies, until, finally, PUBLIUS RUTILIUS
captured the strongholds of the slaves, TAUROMENIUM and ENNA, and thus
closed the war. For his success he was allowed an ovation.




CHAPTER XXI.

INTERNAL HISTORY.--THE GRACCHI.