Wide Networks over Mass Population for Army Recruitment

In ancient times, like in Rome, building massive armies did not require a large portion of the population but rather wide networks to recruit from various regions. The focus was on expanding the recruitment base to include diverse groups rather than recruiting deeply from the socio-economic hierarchy. This strategy was also adopted by the Hellenistic powers. Romans aimed at expanding not just for land but mainly to increase their citizen base, which translated into military obligations. By tapping into different warrior groups from various regions, the Romans were able to build large armies by recruiting smaller groups of top-tier warriors from different clans and communities, steadily increasing their military strength through regular recruitment and rotation of obligations.