@kara Well, yes. The podcast I was listening to (Hardcore History) admits a certain bit of Roman fanboyism, just cause they actually bloody wrote everything down.

But contrasting with other civilizations of the time, the early Roman Republic seems moar militaristic, moar regimented, and moar socially-indebted, while also moar bureaucratic, moar artistic and moar indulgent. Which is a heck of a combination. Continuing developments seem to emphasize these traits, to almost caricature.