text: Interestingly, while the romans were super racist, it wasn't our idea of racism today. It was an "us or them" mentality. If you opposed them, they would burn your cities and enslave you without a hint of sympathy. But if you surrendered immediately when they came for you, you were roman. It didn't matter your skin color, or where you were born, you were a Roman citizen.  Romans understood where you came from didn't matter. It was all about who you were now. (Note I do not support the romans there were barbaric in practice.)