The first king of Rome, Romulus, was a warrior, reflecting the martial nature of Roman society, which was very masculine and patriarchal.

The Romans were very into ritual and sacrifice, taking their religious practices seriously as part of their identity.

The rise of monotheistic religions marks a significant shift in mentality, contrasting the ancient belief in multiple legitimate gods, which shaped the cultural landscape of the Roman Empire. Before 300 AD, Romans practiced a form of pagan polytheism where multiple gods were worshipped without a central religious authority, making religion an auxiliary aspect of life rather than a driving force.

Political leaders in ancient Rome were also military leaders, expected to lead their armies into battle and demonstrate their commitment to the society they governed.

Roman religion was polytheistic, borrowing many gods from Greek mythology, with different cities having their own patron deities. The Romans had an open-minded approach to religion, often integrating new beliefs from conquered societies into their own practices, seeing them as analogous to their existing gods.

Nero was criticized for his focus on music and performance, which was seen as unbecoming for an emperor, reflecting the societal disdain for actors and musicians in Roman culture. The Roman Empire had a complex relationship with performance and drama, often viewing actors and performers as second-rate citizens despite their popularity.

Augustus, as the first emperor of Rome, established a political system that would influence countless later empires and shape global history. He oversees the transition from the Roman Republic to the Empire, setting a template that future emperors follow for the next 500 to 1500 years, as they all aspire to be like him, adopting his titles such as 'Caesar Augustus' and 'Imperator'.

The Romans did not have kings anymore after they expelled the last king in 509 BC, which was a significant shift in their political ideology.

Nero, the Roman Emperor, was often criticized for his theatrical pursuits, which many believed were inappropriate for a ruler.