Editing Samnites (section)

{{Short description|Italic people living in Samnium in south-central Italy}}
[[File:Scène du retour du guerrier - Carafa di Noja, Nola - Musée archéologique national de Naples - inv 9364.jpg|thumb|Samnite soldiers depicted on a tomb [[frieze]] in [[Nola]]. From the 4th century BC|331x331px]]
The '''Samnites''' ({{langx|osc|Safineis}}) were an ancient [[Italic peoples|Italic people]] who lived in [[Samnium]], which is located in modern inland [[Abruzzo]], [[Molise]], and [[Campania]] in south-central [[Italy]].
[[File:Italy 400bC en.svg|thumb|Italy in 400 BC<br>{{legend|#037E3E|Samnites}}]]
An [[Oscan language|Oscan-speaking]] [[Osci|people]], who originated as an offshoot of the [[Sabines]], they formed a confederation consisting of four tribes: the [[Hirpini]], [[Caudini]], [[Caraceni (tribe)|Caraceni]], and [[Pentri]]. Ancient Greek historians considered the [[Umbri]] as the ancestors of the Samnites.<ref>[[Strabo]], ''Geography'', book 4, 7 BCE, p. 465, Alexandria,</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=[[Dionysius of Halicarnassus]]|title=Roman Antiquities|chapter=Book II.49|quote=But Zenodotus of Troezen, a...historian, relates that the Umbrians, a native race, first dwelt in the Reatine territory, as it is called, and that, being driven from there by the Pelasgians, they came into the country which they now inhabit and changing their name with their place of habitation, from Umbrians were called Sabines. But Porcius Cato says that the Sabine race received its name from Sabus, the son of Sancus, a divinity of that country, and that this Sancus was by some called Jupiter Fidius.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dyer |first=Thomas Henry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yMgPAAAAYAAJ |title=The History of the Kings of Rome |date=1868 |publisher=Bell and Daldy |isbn=978-0-8046-1199-2 |language=en}}</ref> Their migration was in a southward direction, according to the rite of [[ver sacrum]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ancillotti |first1=Augusto |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YYoZAQAAMAAJ |title=Le tavole di Gubbio e la civiltà degli Umbri: lo 'scavo nelle parole' del testo iguvino mostra tutta la specificità della cultura umbra e fa emergere le tracce di una grande civiltà del passato, degna di stare alla pari di quella etrusca e di quella romana |last2=Cerri |first2=Romolo |date=1996 |publisher=Jama |language=it}}</ref>

Although allied together against the [[Gauls]] in 354 BC, they later became enemies of the [[Roman Republic|Romans]] and fought them in a series of [[Samnite Wars|three wars]]. Despite an overwhelming victory at the [[Battle of the Caudine Forks]] (321 BC), the Samnites were subjugated in 290 BC. Although severely weakened, the Samnites would still side against the Romans, first in the [[Pyrrhic War]] and then with [[Hannibal]] in the [[Second Punic War]]. They also fought in the [[Social War (Italian)|Social War]] and later in [[Sulla's civil war]] as allies of the Roman consuls [[Gnaeus Papirius Carbo (consul 85 BC)|Papirius Carbo]] and [[Gaius Marius the Younger|Gaius Marius]] against [[Sulla]], who defeated them and their leader [[Pontius Telesinus]] at the [[Battle of the Colline Gate]] (82 BC). Afterward, they were assimilated by the Romans and ceased to exist as a distinct people.

The Samnites had an economy focused upon [[livestock]] and [[agriculture]]. Samnite agriculture was highly advanced for its time, and they practiced [[transhumance]]. Aside from relying on agriculture, the Samnites exported goods such as ceramics, [[bronze]], iron, olives, wool, pottery, and [[terracotta]]s. Their [[Trade|trade networks]] extended across Campania, [[Latium]], [[Apulia]], and [[Magna Graecia]].

Samnite society was stratified into cantons. Each city was a ''vicus''. Many ''vici'' were grouped into a ''pagus'', and many ''pagi'' were grouped into a ''touto''. There were four Samnite ''touto'', one for each of the Samnite tribes. Aside from this system of government, a few Samnite cities had political entities similar to a [[Roman Senate|senate]]. It was rare, although possible, for the Samnites to unify under a coalition; normally the tribes and cities functioned independently from one another.

Samnite religion worshipped both spirits called ''[[Numen|numina]]'' and gods and goddesses. The Samnites honored their gods by [[Sacrifice|sacrificing]] live [[animal]]s and using [[votive offering]]s. [[Superstition]] was prominent in the Samnite religion. It was believed that [[Magic (supernatural)|magical chants]] could influence reality, that [[Talisman|magical amulets]] could protect people, and that [[augur]]s could [[Precognition|see the future]]. Samnite [[priest]]s would manage religious festivals and they could bind people to oaths. Sanctuaries were a major part of the Samnite religion. These might have been used to benefit from trade networks, may have marked the border between territories, and may have been intertwined with government. Samnite sanctuaries may have also been used to reinforce group identity.