Well, let's put it this way for the Romans:
Nice in Tool, great in Iron, great problem with bronze.
Best strat with them is to prepare a very quick passing bronze - something like reaching Bronze with all the gear in place for Iron and plenty of Siege Workshops being built quickly.
They are pretty damn good in Iron.
Ignore the RAX stuff, I've squashed many a player that was using Swordsmen and Legions, using the appropriate Siege stuff. Actually, if you wanna go Legions, go Choson.
They have two darn good weapons in Iron, (H)Cats up front (like 4-5) and Heles behind.
You can do the same thing with Minoan and Greek, but they don't have the building discount.
The building discount is actually awesome.
Roman are no good against the traditional Cat Civs. Every Cat shot will kill a bunch of Heles and Roman Cats can't stand against Sumerian or Hittite ones.
As was said before: If Bronze battles are in the horizon (CHARIOT / CAV CIVS!), be careful: Minoan has a greater chance.
I would use Roman every day of the week against Elephant-only Civs... (like Phoenician / Egyptian) if I can get good protection in Bronze.
Bronze is a huge problem for Romans, but can be helped with mud buddha2's advice (see his post above).
The ideal Roman development plan falls heavilly on fishing!... No fishing=dead Roman.
Play them on Coastal, Medit, Islands, Contin, Inland, where fishing is a-plenty.
Fish, fish, fish - or die.
Ah, one LAST (but not the least) thing:
Romans are DEAD without Gold
Your Old Friend