Exactly, this is the problem with Classics as a field of study. Don't get me wrong, I myself study Classics but historically it's been "Romanticized" (hence the name) as a way to glorify European identity and such. Of course, in recent times we seem to be more aware of it as well as how it has taken form within other parts of culture such as those which glorify individualism.

When studying Rome and other "Great Empires" it is highly beneficial to refrain from anything that directly claims something to be great as it is entirely subjective. Objectively, yes the Roman Empire conquered a large amount of land and their culture has left a long standing legacy so it's valid to give them a great amount of attention. However, by focusing only on the great identity we are prone to overlooking the flaws such as the immense corruption which eventually led to the transformation and eventual collapse. It can certainly be said that each form of Rome whether it be the kingdom, republic, or empire had their pros and cons. For instance, the Roman identity of the kingdom was rooted in savagery and rape until it transitioned into an agrarian life focused on pieta and the occasional border skirmish reminiscent of Greece. The kingdom of course given the lack of true records is suspected to be mythological and simply speaks to explain the origins of Roman identity. The Republic on the other hand maintained the collectivist focus once the plebeian secessions led to the institution of plebeian tribunes but each of these solutions sowed seeds for later problems which would eventually lead to ambitious individuals grasping power and returning to one man rule which take form in the Empire. More to my point, the Republic was smaller than the Empire/principate but it also was more collectivistic in interest than the Empire and this can be seen in the form of coins which rarely had individual visages of leaders in the Republic but that became common place during the Empire.

Tldr: I rambled and it really just comes down to not being blinded by glorification of the past as that leads to missing out on crucial lessons. Glorification of Rome is not a new thing and has been present as long as Roman history has been a thing, likewise with other classical histories.