At least since the late Republic, the Romans believed that they had always been a multi-cultural people. At first, they accepted Latins, Sabines, and a few Etruscans as Romans. However, by the Empire, forced by the Social War, all Italic groups were being accepted as Roman. Nevertheless, those that were physically closer to Rome, that enjoyed (or created) an accepted common ancestry, or that were believed to possess positive attributes had an easier path to acceptance. Even through the third century ce, emperors themselves still felt it necessary to advertise an ancestral tie to Italy, though provincials were now starting to be regarded as Roman.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Arts and Humanities(all)