Since the first century ad, the main officials in the cities were chosen from a narrow circle of families. An important role was played by Roman citizens living in this city, and the local nobility, who received by the grace of the Emperor Roman citizenship. The political activity once characteristic of the Greeks has stalled. Educated segments of the population of the Eastern provinces (in Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, partly Egypt) dreamed of preserving ancient culture, revive some ancient customs and festivals.

In the provinces, musical and poetic competitions were held, ancient works of art were copied, orators made speeches on local history, Greek literature, philosophy, etc. But at the same time representatives of the local nobility sought to make a career in the Imperial service. Plutarch in his essay “Instruction on state Affairs” wrote: “the Present situation of our cities … does not provide an opportunity to distinguish themselves in hostilities, the overthrow of the tyrant or the negotiations for the Union … there Are national courts and embassies to the Emperor, which also need a man who combines ardor and determination with the mind”[37].

Many people in search of a better fate moved from city to city. Tombstones and dedicatory inscriptions give us numerous examples of migrations not only for temporary but also for permanent residence. Sometimes they moved whole families. Resettlement led to the convergence of people of different nationalities and social status. The fact that in the provinces, as in Italy, slaves could obtain plots of land and start a family also contributed to the Erasure of class boundaries.

In the cities, private associations were formed, religious unions, which sometimes included not only free, but also slaves. The privileged slaves and freedmen who were used in the administration of estates, as trading agents, were in a special position. And the freedmen of the emperors, who lived in the provinces, were a kind of “eyes and ears” of the Central government.

In the first century ad, under the conditions of Imperial terror, many of these people made themselves large fortunes primarily denunciations. Among informers there were many freedmen, they were moved by envy to outstanding people, lack of moral traditions, sometimes pure self-interest.