Why ancient Romans and Italians were so good at warfare, and modern Italians are not

[Hanny]

I was always asking myself the questions, why ancient Romans and Italians were so good at warfare and also disciplined and stoic, but modern Italians are not?
Of course the question is also are modern Italians descendants of Romans, Etruscans, Samnites.
It seems the roman mentality was different to the typical Mediterranean mentality.

Have you given any thought to why Modern and i think you mean WW2 italian perforence being rather poor is in such contrast to antiquity, as how wars are fought, modern wars ( i mean in terms of advanced thechnology) downplays to a large extent the contribution of bravery etc by letting technology do the heavy lifting instead of  close range shock action its killing at a distance that is the norm.

 Modern warfare ( here i mean wars are determined by human and material resource base and how they used at rates one side can mainatain and the other cannot) usually use the strategy of exhustion to win, just as did Rome in antiquity, but generaly wars were fought and decided by a couple ( or single) of major battles and thats it we have shown our superoirity and we dictate teh peace terms. WW 2 Italy had inferior doctrine and equipment and in ww2 poor leadership. Otoh its Blue division on the Russian front hada strong showing, while in N Africa on land and sea it was thrashed on a regular bassis. But teh most crippling modern war problem for Italy was its lack of oil and industrial base, it was simply outclassed in what was needed to wage war in ww2. Try here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Economics-World...ernational-

Yes, I think that culture, organisation and mentality are very important to military success. I dont believe that genetics are. 

Ok but agression levels are determined by genes, the MOA gene is linked to being agressive and not havig emoitional issues fromm performing voilence, its known as the warrior gene, M Howard used to lecture on some nations thinking voilence was just right and normal to settle disputes, a cultural propensity for voilence. Males are far more likley to use voilence as a problem solver than females, some men are far more likley to use voilence than othr males, see here https://bsj.berkeley.edu/born-to-kill-th...ler-genes/ Women soilders suffer twice the PTSD etc disorders than do males, geniticly they are pre disposed not to cope with life threatening events, and use of voilence.

Well I would prefer a more detailed answer  
Especially on the subject of roman mentality.
And how it changed with time.

Levels of eduction in the general population have made them more aware that being told to go to war because God says is right to do so, your soveriegn tells you do do as its your duty, or else often end up with your death for gains you cannot fathom or benifit from.