帕特森以古代世界开始，探讨了罗马获得主宰地位，尤其是他们在布匿战争中击败迦太基人的流行解释。

Paterson begins in the ancient world, considering popular explanations for the ascendance of Rome and, in particular, their victory over Carthage in the Punic Wars.

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“腓尼基”是希腊人对这一地区的称谓，意思是“紫色之国”，因该地盛产紫色染料而得名。罗马人则称之为“布匿”。

"As far as Phoenicia" is Greek to the region to name means "the kingdom of purple", because the area is rich in purple dye the name. The Roman people call it "unseen" cloth.

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也就不曾失去过这些地区：前211年罗马重新夺取了卡普阿，因它在第二次布匿战争(前218 - 201年)支持汉尼拔而惩罚了这个城市(没有彻底摧毁)。

And did not lose them: Capua was punished (not completely destroyed) in 211 BC for its support of Hannibal in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) after Rome recaptured the city.

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