A spy is a person who secretly collects and/or reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor. Spies have been around since the dawn of mankind, when we were just basic nomads trying to find adequate food and shelter. When you attempt to discreetly look to see what someone is doing, you are considered a spy.
The Romans used an intricate network of spies to see what their foreign enemies were up to. Being a vast power during that time, the rulers were in constant fear of an attack by an unknown force. They were famous for claiming to simply outbattle their opponents, rather than trick or decieve them. However, being such a power, they needed to have spies so they could make sure their own people we not turning against them. One of their most famous spy commanders was Scipio Africanus. On the battlefield, he was a powerful military commander, using many of Hannibal's strategies and tactics to win the Second Punic War. Off the battlefield, he was a clever commander of an intricate spy network.
Thousands of years later, after Columbus sailed to the Americas, the Americans employed their own system of spies to infiltrate the British lines. Famous spies like Nathan Hale l worked for the US government, while the Roman spies worked for their respective governments. Spies are almost always employed by the government. In some cases, the government themselves can be spies, which can become a very controversial matter. The Edward Snowden NSA leaks are the most recent proof that governments, even governments of supposed "free countries" will still spy on their people.
The Romans used an intricate network of spies to see what their foreign enemies were up to. Being a vast power during that time, the rulers were in constant fear of an attack by an unknown force. They were famous for claiming to simply outbattle their opponents, rather than trick or decieve them. However, being such a power, they needed to have spies so they could make sure their own people we not turning against them. One of their most famous spy commanders was Scipio Africanus. On the battlefield, he was a powerful military commander, using many of Hannibal's strategies and tactics to win the Second Punic War. Off the battlefield, he was a clever commander of an intricate spy network.
Thousands of years later, after Columbus sailed to the Americas, the Americans employed their own system of spies to infiltrate the British lines. Famous spies like Nathan Hale l worked for the US government, while the Roman spies worked for their respective governments. Spies are almost always employed by the government. In some cases, the government themselves can be spies, which can become a very controversial matter. The Edward Snowden NSA leaks are the most recent proof that governments, even governments of supposed "free countries" will still spy on their people.
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