Campanian
The Campanian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the fifth of six ages of the Late Cretaceous epoch (or, in chronostratigraphy: the fifth of six stages in the Upper Cretaceous series). The Campanian spans the time from 83.6 ± 0.7 Ma to 72.1 ± 0.6 Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by the Santonian and it is followed by the Maastrichtian.
Timeline of the Samnite Wars
The Samnites were a group of hill-tribes occupying the central Apennines. In the mid-4th century they began to expand into the territories of their neighbours, especially in Campania and the Liris valley. In the 4th century, the cities of northern Campania had rallied around the leadership of the largest city, Capua. These "Campani" fought against the Samnites to the east. During the 4th-century, the Samnites grew to become the strongest group in the central highlands. At first, they had enemies in common with Rome in the Celts and Volsci, and this commonality of purpose led to the formation of a peace treaty with Rome in 354. Once these threats were removed, Samnium expansion brought them into conflict with Rome's growing influence in central Italy. Samnites were the only ones who possessed nearly equivalent power in Italy as to that of Romans; so that the Roman-Samnite wars determined which would be the leading power in Italy.