By 500 BC Rome had annexed the territory of some of the neighbouring tribes. The inhabitants were fully incorporated as Roman citizens.
By 323 BC Rome had defeated the Gauls and strengthened her position amongst the Italic people. She now dominated the tribes united in the Latin League as well as the Samnites.
After crushing the rebellion of the Latin League (the Samnites, Etruscans and Umbrians) Rome had become the dominant power in central Italy. Colonies were installed to maintain a firm grip on the newly acquired territory and an expanding road network guaranteed swift access.
After numerous confrontations with Italian tribes and Greeks, southern Italy was finally brought under Roman dominion in 275 BC. Rome now controlled most of Italy.
By 270 BC most of peninsular Italy had been brought under Rome's control, with the assistance of the Carthaginians. But in 265 BC the allies fell out over control of Sicily, precipitating the First Punic War.
After the Punic Wars Rome ruled Italy and its islands (Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily), as well as the former Carthaginian territory, including parts of Spain and the North African coast. After 146 BC Macedonia, Greece and parts of Asia Minor were incorporated.
The conquests of Pompey and Caesar brought parts of Turkey, the North African coast, Syria, Palestine and Gaul into the expanding Roman state.
