The Oxford History Of The Classical World

Spain in the time of Augustus is illuminating here. In fact, Balbus and his nephew from Gades
(admittedly an ancient and civilized Punic city) entered the Senate-though the very idea shocked Cicero-
before the son of Pompey's friend Theophanes of Mytilene did so; and the Balbi were soon followed by
a few Gallic nobles who, or whose fathers, owed the citizenship to Caesar or Augustus. The lineaments
of the Roman Empire in its maturity were taking shape.

TOC