Meanwhile, however, the overseas wars which followed the Second Punic War were transforming the social and economic fabric of
Italy. These wars had two consequences which concern us here. They led on the one hand to a steady professionalization of the
Roman and Italian soldier. Strictly speaking, it is inappropriate to talk of such a thing as the Roman army at this date, quite apart
from the fact that an army levied to fight for Rome consisted of a large number of notionally independent contingents. But whereas
down to 201 it had been normal for a man to fight in the spare time left over from farming, it became increasingly common after
200 for men to serve abroad for years on end.
At the same time, the wealth of the Mediterranean was pouring into Italy, partly in the form of booty, partly in the form of
payments exacted from defeated enemies. Some of this wealth was distributed to the lower orders on the occasion of the triumph
celebrated at the conclusion of a successful campaign, but much ended up in the hands of the elite. Further wealth was acquired in
the course of the administration of overseas territories or .by lending money at exorbitant rates of interest to foreign communities.
What happened to all this money? Some of it, both that which remained under the control of the community and that which had
passed into private hands, was expended on the erection of public, as well as private, buildings in Rome and Italy. Rome showed
the way, with projects such as the linking of the temples (still visible) in the Largo Argentina into a single monumental complex.
Similar projects, on a scale hitherto undreamt of, were carried out elsewhere in Italy. Thus the Latin colonia of Fregellae possessed
before its revolt and destruction in 125-124 a gigantic sanctuary of Aesculapius - temple, portico on three sides, stone treasure
chest, altar, water-supply, monumental access ramp.
Remains Of Republican Temples In Largo Argentina in Rome. Temple C (entrance stairway in the left foreground) is the earliest,
probably going back to the early third century B.C. and dedicated to the Italic deity Feronia. Temple A (standing columns at the