Rome was the first city in history to go over a million people at its height, making it a major urban center.

The Roman populace often did not encounter the government directly; their lives were primarily influenced by local elites who managed tax collection and community affairs.

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

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.

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.

The aristocrats in Rome became increasingly dissatisfied as power became concentrated in a smaller subset of their class, leading to feelings of exclusion.

Roman aristocrats, who were major landowners, lived off the rents and produce from their land, relying on peasants and slaves for labor, which allowed them to avoid traditional occupations.

In ancient Rome, wealthy citizens often lived on the ground floor of buildings to escape fires, contrary to modern expectations where the wealthy occupy penthouses.

Roman aristocrats lived in luxury, often having country villas and city homes, and they were known for their extravagant lifestyles, including hosting lavish parties and engaging in various forms of entertainment.