The Romans often viewed business and profit-making as shameful, leading to a reliance on private contractors for tax collection, which resulted in exploitation of provinces.

The Roman Empire's vast size made effective governance challenging, leading to slow communication and a natural fragmentation of power.

Roman citizenship came with privileges and obligations, emphasizing the importance of citizenship in Roman society, although it was limited to a small percentage of the population.

The Roman Republic was characterized by a system of job rotation and assemblies, allowing citizens to participate in governance for about 500 years after the kings were expelled.

Rome's success can be attributed to its ability to integrate conquered peoples and ideas, often granting them a degree of Roman citizenship.

The wealthy Romans had the leisure time to engage in literacy and statecraft, believing this made them the best suited to lead the Republic, despite their reluctance to educate the lower classes.

The rise of major urban centers in Rome led to a society where people often bounced around from patron to patron to make a living.

Economic inequality in the late Roman Republic led to social stress, as small landholders were pushed out by wealthy elites, affecting military recruitment and societal stability.

Information in ancient Rome was disseminated through traders and an extensive network of roads, allowing for communication among the upper classes and government officials.