The Sandlight Wars and the Subscontéric War

Livy is our main source, but of course, Livy is writing in the Emperor Augustus. Roman history doesn't really get going until after the Sandlight Wars so who Livy was using its sources is another big question. The other problem with Livy is that he sees sort of character as national and individual as being the prime mover in history. That's what shapes events. But also he likes things to fit into neat chunks. He tends to have a theme that he gives five books each to. One of those themes is of course, Sandlight Wars. And this, I think, has a slightly unfortunate effect because it creates a sort of spurious sort of coherent song.