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.

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.

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

Christianity's appeal to ordinary Romans included the promise of an afterlife, a sense of equal value among all people regardless of status, and the community's commitment to good works, such as caring for the sick and poor.

Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor, expressed confusion about Christians in a letter to Emperor Trajan, indicating that even educated Romans had little understanding of Christianity at that time, viewing it as a fringe movement.

The Byzantine Empire had politically charged factions tied to chariot teams, leading to significant riots, showing how seriously the Romans took their sports.

In ancient Rome, a politician aspiring to be consul was expected to lead a legion into battle, achieve victory, and return to Rome to celebrate a triumph, showcasing the spoils of war.

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.

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.