I don't think it's quite as generic as you portray. Rome was truly in a class of its own. Brutal violence characterized most ancient societies, and wars were wi

I don't think it's quite as generic as you portray. Rome was truly in a class of its own. Brutal violence characterized most ancient societies, and wars were winner-take-all affairs. Yet Rome had a top-to-bottom, win-at-any-cost militarization of society that set it apart from all but a few states like Macedon and Sparta. Romans who surrendered rather than dying in battle were often ostracized, as happened after Cannae. Roman armies were also capable of genocidal cruelty towards enemies, as demonstrated in the conquest of Gaul. The city won dominion of the Mediterranean through brutally efficient armies as well as a willingness to shrug off terrible losses. It's not surprising to see the same attitudes permeating civilian life. The closest European parallel seems to be Prussia, especially from the time of Frederic the Great onwards. It is the most complete example of the nation in arms I can think of. Yet even they lacked the casual brutality of the Romans.