The evil results are, of course, as obvious here as in the parallel case of the corn-supply (see above, p.

34); enormous amounts of capital were used unproductively, and the people were gradually accustomed to believe that the State was responsible for their enjoyment as well as their food.

But we must be most careful not to jump to the conclusion that this was due to any deliberate policy on the part of the Roman government.

They drifted into these dangerous shoals in spite of the occasional efforts of intelligent steersmen; and it would indeed have needed a higher political intelligence than was then and there available, to have fully divined the direction of the drift and the dangers ahead of them.
We must now turn in the last place to consider the nature of the entertainments, and see whether there was any improving or educational influence in them.
These had originally consisted entirely of shows of a military character, as we have seen in the case of the Ludi Romani, and especially of chariot-racing in the old Circus Maximus.

The Romans seem always to have been fond of horses and racing, though they never developed a large or thoroughly efficient cavalry force.