The warrior is almost wholly inimical to a free society. In those full times of civilian specialists, it needs citizens - some of whom must be soldiers at any time. But yhou must never stop being citizens, both when in formin afterwards. We don't glamorize soldiers so much in an in the west, but the warrior has a certain heroic athos and it's a nice transition.
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.