Samnium was largely a rugged hilly/mountainous area in the Appenines and thus the Samnites were predisposed to adapt to mountain warfare tactics, such as increased mobility. The Samnite wars pointed out the weaknesses of the inflexible Roman system, which was similar to the phalanx system and was at its best in open level terrain. In narrow valleys, wooded areas, and rough broken terrain, such an inflexible system which could not tolerate open or disjointed ranks and files quickly broke down. After the disaster at the Claudine Forks, it became apparent that a more flexible system was needed and thus the Romans adapted what they had found to be superior. Livy is a good place to look for details about the Samnite wars.