you are right, however, Alexander was relevant, but that section had to be axed to retain the goodwill of my sponsors – several of them are members of the current Macedonian Opposition in Exile in the Park Lane Area (MOEPLA), and like many players on the current world stage, they combine a keen interest in the latest developments in weapon technology with a diligent surveillance of all published material concerning even the most ancient past of their motherland.

i read somewhere that many of the original settlers in Rome were people wanted on various criminal charges, or perhaps for political reasons. in those days certain places were recognised as ‘safe havens’ just as today, to a limited extent, embassies offer refuge to certain people.

in establishing themelves the Romans eliminated the neighbouring Etruscans, whom i suspect were an ethically and aesthetically superior people.

the Romans were ruthless, and attached great importance to the military. their chief god was war (Mars). they likewise developed utilitarian technologies with great skill, but relied on Greece for their high culture. the engine of Roman economic expansion was the import of cheap goods from conquered areas and the acquisition of labour power by the enslavement of prisoners of war. economic expansion went hand in hand with territorial expansion.

the available means of communication limited the scale on which this military empire could remain stable. it expanded until it over-reached itself.

the 2nd century AD was the high point of Roman civilisation, at least for Roman citizens, and saw two or three emperors who were men of real quality.

the 3rd century saw endless civil wars, conspiracies and struggles for power by representatives of factions. for example certain Syrian families attained significant status. the great majority of emperors in this century were murdered, and few held power for more than a very short time.

around 1492, Europe was undergoing two major developments which are today referred to as Renaissance and Reformation. the Renaissance was a movement in thought, art and philosphy which impacted also on religion, which was then the basis of social cohesion and the means by which a tight ideological and social control was maintained. the Reformation resulted in two centuries of ‘religious’ wars.

one result of these complex tendencies was the rise of science, and the acceleration of application of technology to warfare. another was a renewed awareness of imperialism…