The pre-eminent family of the republic has been the Scipios. Gnaeus Africanus, who triumphed over the Carthaginians, and Publius Macedonicus (who just died of old age the last turn, in 146BC). Sadly, a Macedonian assassin and a botched invasion of Alexandria killed off the 3 other Scipios, and family tree issues meant the last survivor, Publius, never had children or adopted. So ended the greatest of the Roman families.
Your 3 main generals/important characters are:
Manius Julius Caesar (7 stars/5 confidence): Current Consul, reformator who passed the Marian reforms. Formerly Legate of the late Publius Macedonicus during the 3rd Macedonian war. He received his first triumph at age 28, after decisive victories over the Macedonians, the second youngest Roman ever to have a triumph. Nearly killed in an ambush outside of Pella during that war.
Kaeso Sergius Orata (5 stars/3 confidence): Current Consul. Older colleague of Caesar, who also passed the reforms. Formerly Legate of the late Publius Macedonicus during the 2nd and Praetor during the 3rd Macedonian War. He led the final expedition to Byzantion that finally ended the Macedonian threat forever
Sextus Valerius Maximus (4 stars/4 confidence): Currently Proconsul. Formerly Propraetor during the 3rd Macedonian War. Won his first triumph at age 24 (!) during the 2nd Macedonian War as a Tribunus Militum. Youngest Roman triumphator ever. Arch-conservative, tried to block the Marian reforms but failed (I guess? He must not have been happy either way, as an Optimate).
You begin at peace with everyone except rebels, Lusitania and Mauretania are your vassals. Italy as a whole has been well built out. There are 4 main provinces:
Cisalpine Gaul (provincial capital Bononia, governor is currently in Patavium)
Sicily (Syracause, governor is there)
Africa (Carthago, governor is there)
Hispania Citerior (Carthago Nova, no governor, just a legate)
Everywhere else are allied or free cities. Note for these I did constant upgrades of walls/farms, etc but not temples. Only provinces should have their own temples replaced by Roman ones.
Hispania outside of the 3 Romanized cities of Carthago Nova, Contrebia and Segeda have been loyal, very important sources of allied troops for most of the game, so they haven't been provinced and shouldn't be if you're roleplaying. The Lusitanians expanded south and I fought a single war with them, went north and took all of their cities except their last one, then forced them to become a vassal. The Averni moved across the mountains from Gaul and took the rebel city that I'd hoped the Lusitani would take, but didn't for years, and have been at war with the Lusitanians since. I haven't gotten involved but if you wanted to attack someone, the Averni are attacking the friends and allies of Rome....
The Punic cities of Utica and Hadrumetum have been likewise very loyal and important for troops and are also not provinced. I was allied to Numidia against Carthage and gave extra cities I didn't want to Numidia. Those bastards backstabbed me in spite of free money/cities/alliance, so I took all of their cities and they've only had camps left since (of which they lost 1 to rebels) and are a vassal. They haven't revolted since.
The Balearics, Sardinia and Corsica haven't been provinced and have been loyal, good money-makers for the whole game.
Transalpine Gaul has been mostly quiet. The Gauls have never attacked me directly, but the Averni did attack the vassal Lusitanians in Hispania, and haven't had much success over many years. Might be worthwhile to try out the new Marian legions on them.
Cisalpine Gaul has been thoroughly Romanized, especially Bononia. At one point the Boii came through the Alps from the northeast to attack Patavium, but my governor and provincial forces drove them off, and took their city in Rhaetia, which I gave to the Aedui, because it was far away and I hoped that would start a war between them. The Aedui sent a stack close to Patavium last turn to see if they should attack I guess, so I sent my governor and some reinforcements there, then they backed off.
Illyria is a recent addition, formerly held by rebels and Macedonians. Not Romanized or provinced at all, and more of a pain than anything. Some infrastructure built out though.
Greece has been a mixed bag. The islands have been very loyal and good for recruitment, but the mainland has been a giant pain. I liberated them from the Macedonians but they didn't care. Athens in particular rose up, slaughtered its Italian/Roman garrison and resurrected the KH. When I retook it, I sacked the city and destroyed all commercial buildings to help manage unrest. This is an area ripe for provincing/Romanization.
Macedonia is the most recent addition to the empire. We fought 4 wars against an increasingly shrinking and suicidal Macedonia. At one point they controlled all of Greece, Illyria and even parts of Dacia, and fought with the Getai/Pergamon, but always came after me eventually until I had enough. Also good for provincing, but Demetrias in particular is good for the cavalry/has been loyal since taken.
Cyrene is a loyal allied city that the Ptolemies attack very often and try to stir up unrest in with spies, they might try again soon, because they usually go for that or Cyprus, which has also been loyal and not provinced.
Pergamon is a Roman ally, that I gave Ephesus to after liberating it from the Ptolemies because there was too much unrest. They've been loyal allies since, but have recently come under Ptolemaic attacks. Would be good to jump in and help them out.
Aside from that, the Bosporan Greeks attacked Byzantion once or twice before being defeated/wanting peace, but they have been a punching bag for the Getai for most of the game.