7 ms·
Decimation was rarely used IIRC. But as far as I can tell, the Romans were similar in a lot of ways to the Spartans. Probably everyone was in the region, the S
by wisty 5y ago
Decimation was rarely used IIRC.
But as far as I can tell, the Romans were similar in a lot of ways to the Spartans. Probably everyone was in the region, the Spartans were just a bit more extreme, and had the best propaganda.
But look at what the Romans had - pater familias (the father of a household could legally murder a weak infant, or technically anyone under them including any adult male sons), legends like Troy and Horatius Cocles, plantation slavery to keep the city fed, and a violent and hierarchical society run almost entirely by veteran officers from noble families - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursus_honorum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursus_honorum
- BurningFrog 5y agoProbably most societies through history has had the family as its "smallest unit". Just like in modern USA, it's nobody's business if I cut off one of my fingers, it would not be of concern for such a society if a family kills one of their members. If you kill or steal from another family, legal systems usually step in. I always keep i mind that through almost all history, compared to our modern life, people were incredibly poor, living near famine, disease, and death. In that light what seems barbaric is often just practical.