Rome was a multi ethnic state at its outset. The modern italian identity that holds the country together is a creation of the roman empire. And so when the romans are expanding through italy, they're dealing with gauls, etruscans, greeks, latins,. sabines a, samnites a and and dozens of smaller peoples.
Historian Bret Devereaux of the University of North Carolina talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about our understanding of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Devereaux highlights the gap between the reality of Greece and Rome and how they're portrayed in popular culture. The conversation focuses on the diversity of ancient Rome and the military prowess of Sparta.