If you look at what the Romans in the context of their own time, it looks much different. Citizenship was an open class, unlike most everyone in the Mediterrane

If you look at what the Romans in the context of their own time, it looks much different. Citizenship was an open class, unlike most everyone in the Mediterranean. Slaves actually had rights. Conquered peoples were able to earn tributes in future conquests. Women could own property. Yes, it’s all terrible by our standards, but becoming Roman could actually improve the lives of subject common people. Reproducing the previous society is the mistake, because it wasn’t just the society. It was the free trade and lack of Mediterranean piracy that brought prosperity. The relatively increased civil rights that brought stability, and Senate that brought legitimacy. They had a model that produced the best economy and civil rights for their era, but looking backwards to past glories can’t replicate that.