Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Chap. 2.7)

Niccolò Machiavelli * Track #67 On Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (English version)

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Niccolò Machiavelli

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Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Chap. 2.7) by Niccolò Machiavelli

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Niccolò Machiavelli

Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius (Chap. 2.7) Annotated

Of the Quantity of Land assigned by the Romans to each Colonist.

It would, I think, be difficult to fix with certainty how much land the Romans allotted to each colonist, for my belief is that they gave more or less according to the character of the country to which they sent them. We may, however, be sure that in every instance, and to whatever country they were sent, the quantity of land assigned was not very large: first, because, these colonists being sent to guard the newly acquired country, by giving little land it became possible to send more men; and second because, as the Romans lived frugally at home, it is unreasonable to suppose that they should wish their countrymen to be too well off abroad. And Titus Livius tells us that on the capture of Veii, the Romans sent thither a colony, allotting to each colonist three jugera and seven unciae of land, which, according to our measurement would be something under two acres.

Besides the above reasons, the Romans may likely enough have thought that it was not so much the quantity of the land allotted as its careful cultivation that would make it suffice. It is very necessary, however, that every colony should have common pasturage where all may send their cattle to graze, as well as woods where they may cut fuel; for without such conveniences no colony can maintain itself.

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