What attracts you to Late Rome?

[starman2012]

This was one of the reasons why Rome was always trying to expand; its leaders needed to show divine favor through military victory.

Claudius invaded Britain to strengthen his rule via the prestige of victory. But wars were almost invariably fought for very practical reasons.

Also, the whole reason that Christians were persecuted was because they failed to participate in the imperial cult worship.

Sure but it wasn't so much a religion as a kind of patriotic or civic duty. IIRC all it involved was a small sacrifice like pouring out a libation.

The importance of religion can be verified by the sheer number of "cult" religions that prospered during the late imperial period.

My old teacher was referring to the early Imperial period.