I have been watching some documentaries on Rome and many of them take the time to comment on the fact that Rome spent a lot of money giving bread and entertainment to its poor.
But why? The poor until later on could not serve in the military and later on when they could they wouldn't be "poor".
So why spend money on a class that was an economic burden and did not provide military service? Considering how they had no problem putting whole peoples to the sword why not just evict or kill them? Which seems more "Roman" to me.
But why? The poor until later on could not serve in the military and later on when they could they wouldn't be "poor".
So why spend money on a class that was an economic burden and did not provide military service? Considering how they had no problem putting whole peoples to the sword why not just evict or kill them? Which seems more "Roman" to me.