> What's more likely is that freer societies are better able to harness the abilities of their inhabitants, and unlike slavery/serfdom based states, they don't have to deploy as many resources to defend against their own enslaved inhabitants. It's a triumph of a better organizational structure, not something inherent to human nature.
I.e. a structure that fits human nature better, making it inherent.
Rome's army consisted of free men, and they conquered everyone else. Slave armies have a poor track record when they come up against free men.
> Rome's army consisted of free men, and they conquered everyone else.
Rome relied heavily on slavery. Slaves were 20-30% of the population [1]. The slaves did the labor that allowed the free men to go fight and conquer others. It's not an example of a free society in the slightest.
I.e. a structure that fits human nature better, making it inherent.
Rome's army consisted of free men, and they conquered everyone else. Slave armies have a poor track record when they come up against free men.