It has been 20 + years since I studied the fall of the republic, and I had forgotten a lot. All I could think of was the senators and their latifundia. I think one similarity that traverses all of the republic's and empire's history is the constant hearkening back to the good old days and strength of Rome, the motto SPQR. That is something that we have seen throughout the tRump campaign with Make America Great Again. It's right wing progress disguised as traditionalist values.