By strongly affirming it’s patriotism, the Roman was expressing his attachment to a republic built on centuries of resistance against the enemies, on the bravery of her soldiers, the wisdom of her statesmen or the talent of her orators. But when the legions of the republic, and later of the empire, started to conquer all surrounding nations, asserting its supremacy over the entire known world, the patriotic sentiment had to evolve in order to remain relevant in political speeches and in the consciousness of the people.
