The Athenians and the Punic Wars

In 510 BC, the Romans sent three men to study Athenian democracy as they were establishing the Republic. And you learn some lessons from both of these free societies. As a free society, the Athenians also create an empire, which in the Peloponnesian wars, brings Athens to their knees against Sparta. So there are many great aspects to these cautionary tales of Athens and Rome that our founders paid very close.