The Social War, 91 to 88 BCE: A History of the Italian Insurgency against the Roman Republic

Christopher J. Dart reassesses the Social War of 91–88 BCE, the uprising in which many of Rome’s Italian allies turned against the Republic after generations of political and military partnership. Although the fighting lasted only a few years, the conflict transformed the relationship between Rome and the peoples of Italy and played a major role in the political upheavals of the late Republic.

Working with fragmentary ancient evidence and competing modern interpretations, Dart examines the long-term tensions behind the war, including citizenship, political rights and land, before reconstructing the campaigns and strategies of both Roman and insurgent forces. He then follows the consequences into the civil wars and the reshaping of Roman and Italian identity. The book provides a focused modern study of a conflict essential to understanding Rome’s transition from an Italian republic to a more fully integrated state.