A Roman is a person from the city of [[Rome]]. Rome was the most important important city in the Roman Empire for most of its existence. It was the seat of the imperial government where the Emperor would reside.
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In the late Republic, especially after the [[Social War]], the meaning of Roman expanded to include citizens elsewhere in the Italian peninsula, and later the far-flung provinces.
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In the late Republic period of the Roman Empire, especially after the [[Social War]], the meaning of Roman expanded to include citizens elsewhere in the Italian peninsula, and later the far-flung provinces.