The Romans are always going to have a hold on our collective consciousness because we're living in a post-Roman society.

The spread of Roman culture closely correlates with regions suitable for growing olives, wine, and wheat, which were staples of their diet.

The Romans were obsessed with their ancestors, often displaying wax death masks of their forefathers in their homes, emphasizing the importance of family legacy.

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

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

Roman history is conventionally divided into three periods: the monarchy (753-509 BC), the Republic (509-27 BC), and the Empire (27 BC-5th century AD).

The Roman Empire's strength lay in its ability to incorporate diverse peoples, which was lost as it resisted integrating the Goths.

The Romans would often take the sons of conquered tribal leaders, raise them as Romans, and incorporate them into their society, turning enemies into allies. As early as the second century AD, Roman emperors and senators began to come from provinces like Spain and North Africa, rather than just Italy.

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.