Okay so it that is a really broad and ambiguous question so I'll do my best to fine-tune it here. This seems like a question that would already have been asked, but I couldn't see it so I'm asking it. If you refer me to another post or website, could you make sure it covers the specific questions I ask below, thanks.

Looking on a map, the Roman Empire looks like a single entity, but I at least know it wasn't. I am wondering how the territory within the Empire was organised and governed. As far as I know there was either directly governed imperial territory and then client states that payed tribute or were not directly governed by Rome. Is this right?

My starting point is this map. It shows Roman provinces and then only a few client states on the edges of the empire. Was all the territory in these provinces controlled directly by Rome and considered 'Roman' territory? Or were there areas within these provinces that still had some autonomy and independence?

Thanks guys