> the romans. seems like they were hardly a steady state or level state enterprise. they were growing or losing ground about all the time. they were winning or losing as it were...
Rome started from a relatively insignificant local
small handful of tribes And grew a vast empire,
which requires more winning than losing... and
some give and take.
They initially battled the surrounding Latin tribes
after such forming alliances with them where
if someone attacked part of that alliance the others
had to come to their assistance..with such approach
and growing combined strength they gradually took
over the Italian peninsula and well beyond... in that
time there was the Social War (91-87 BC) where such
Latin allies revolted coz they were supplying lots of
soldier manpower but not getting the benefits the
Romans were.. the result was Romans extended
their rights to them.. and the Romanization of Italy.
****
So they went from strength to strength and this
also happened as they conquered more distant
lands and peoples... Some became very good
allies, could earn Roman citizenship and all the
benefits offered [after a period of service in the
non-legionary
auxiliary forces] .. the reforms
of Augustus made the auxilia part of the standing
Roman army.