X @Nick Szabo

Historical Analysis - The idea that Romans only had a civic sense of identity is considered inaccurate [1] - For most of its history, Rome primarily extended citizenship to other Italian ethnic groups [1] - Groups outside Italy were not integrated in the same way as Italians [1] - Late empire senators and emperors emphasized ancestral connections to Italy, with Italian ethnicity highly valued [1] - Roman writers like Virtuvius highlighted the existence and supremacy of a distinct Italian race [1] - Rome appealed to kinship with other Italian ethnic groups for support against Hannibal's invasion [1]