Books II and III covered the origins of major Italian cities and gave the work its title. The last four books dealt with the Roman Republic, its wars, and its growing power, focused on the period between the onset of the First Punic War up to 149BC.
The first two volumes of this work examined the origins of major Italian cities, while the final four chapters explored the Roman Republic's history, including its wars and rise to power, from the beginning of the First Punic War up to 149 BC.