The Hellenes in Italy--Maritime Supremacy of the Tuscans and Carthaginians Relations of Italy with Other Lands In the history of the nations of antiquity a gradual dawn ushered in the day; and in their case too the dawn was in the east.

While the Italian peninsula still lay enveloped in the dim twilight of morning, the regions of the eastern basin of the Mediterranean had already emerged into the full light of a varied and richly developed civilization.

It falls to the lot of most nations in the early stages of their development to be taught and trained by some rival sister-nation; and such was destined to be in an eminent degree the lot of the peoples of Italy.

The circumstances of its geographical position, however, prevented this influence from being brought to bear upon the peninsula by land.

No trace is to be found of any resort in early times to the difficult route by land between Italy and Greece.