Roman Republic and its benefits on the rest of civilization

The Roman Republic has long been touted as a sort of utopia where people lived in constant happiness, since they were represented in a government that was strong, and constant military successes were flowing towards Rome, increasing her power over the power of other nations. Rome had her problems though, and in great abundance. The first 200 years of the Roman Republic consisted of a fragile city state that was almost crushed in 394 BCE when savage Gaul chieftians sacked the city of rome and forced the senators to flee. Rome recovered from this setback, and was in relative peace until 330 BC, where the Samnites, a fearsome neighbor, declared war and almost threatened Rome's gates again. The Samnite Wars went on constantly until 300 BCE, when the Samnites were defeated once and for all. 15 years of peace went on by serenly for the Rome, but then Pyrrhus of Epirus, one of the greatest generals of that generation, invaded Campania because Rome had been interfering in trade in the Mediterranean. Pyrrhus was never defeated, but he never had the strength to actually take Rome, so he sailed back to Greece confidant Rome would not trouble him for a long time. A short time later, Rome fought Carthage in the First Punic War, basically a contest for naval and economic supremacy, which Rome barely won. The Roman Republic from then on had no peace, constantly having to fight in Africa, Spain, Greece, and Anatolia, which drained their resources even as it added to their territory. Rome only stopped fighting by the Emperor Nerva, appointed by the Senate, which was the start of the Five Good Emperors.