By subjugating other nations, peoples, if not by war then making them an offer they couldn't refuse.
They seemed to be an inventive bunch and made good use of the technology they produced. They invented concrete but the invention was lost after the fall of the empire and not re-invented until recent history.
They built large armies and developed tactics that were very effective such as the "turtle" and developed the short sword and large shield. The empire expanded greatly under Julius Caesar but declined steadily and slowly after him. Big Julie beat the crap out of his enemies but treated them well once they surrendered.
They set up forts and governments and rapidly built infrastructure such as roads in case they needed to subdue any insurrections. They were quite organized.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.