CONTENTS.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE CONQUESTS OF THE ROMANS.Early History of Rome—Wars under the Kings—Their Results—Gradual
Subjection of Italy—Great Heroes of the Republic—Their Virtues and
Victories—Military Aggrandizement—The Carthaginian, Macedonian, and
Asiatic Wars—Their Consequences—Civil Wars of Marius and Sulla, of
Pompey and Caesar—The Conquests of the Barbarians—Extension of Roman
Dominion in the East—Conquests of the Emperors—The Military Forces of
the Empire—Military Science—The Roman Legion—The Military Genius of
the Romans
The vast Extent of the Empire—Boundaries—Rivers and Mountains—The
Mediterranean and its Islands—The Provinces—Principal Cities—Great
Architectural Monuments—Roads—Commerce—Agriculture—Manufactures—
Wealth—Population—Unity of the Empire
Original Settlement—The Seven Hills—Progress of the City—Principal
Architectural Monuments—A Description of the Temples, Bridges,
Aqueducts, Forums, Basilicas, Palaces, Amphitheatres, Theatres,
Circuses, Columns, Arches, Baths, Obelisks, Tombs—Miscellaneous
Antiquities—Streets—Gardens—Private Houses—Populous Quarters—
Famous Statues and Pictures—General Magnificence—Population
The great Wonders of Ancient Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting—
Famous Artists of Antiquity—How far the Romans copied the Greeks—How
far they extended Art—Its Principles—Its Perfection—Causes of its
Decline—Permanence of its grand Creations
The Original Citizens—Comitia Calata—Comitia Curiata—Comitia
Centuriata—Comitia Tributa—The Plebs—Great Patrician Families—The
Aristocratic Structure of ancient Roman Society—The Dignity and Power
of the Senate—The Knights—The Growth of the Democracy—Contests
between Patricians and Plebeians—Rise of Tribunes—Popular Leaders—
Their Laws—The Great Officers of State—Provincial Governors—
Usurpations of fortunate Generals—The Revolution under Julius Caesar and
Augustus—Imperial Despotism—Preservation of the Forms of the
Republic, and utter Prostration of its Spirit
Genius of the Romans for Government and Laws—Development of
Jurisprudence—Legislative Sources—Judicial Power—Courts of Law—The
Profession of Law—Great Lawyers and Jurists—Ancient Codes—Imperial
Codes—The Law of Persons—Rights of Citizens, of Foreigners, of Slaves—
Laws of Marriage, of Divorce, of Adoption—Paternal Power—
Guardianship—Laws relating to Real Rights—Law of Obligations—Laws of
Succession—Testaments and Legacies—Actions and Procedure in Civil
Suits—Criminal Law
The Grecian Models—How far they contributed to Roman Creations—The
Development of the Latin Language—The Orators, Poets, Dramatists,
Satirists, Historians, and their chief Works—How far Literature was
cultivated—Schools—Libraries—Literary Legacies of the Romans
Its gradual Development from Thales to Aristotle—How far the Romans adopted the Greek Philosophy—What Additions they made to it—How far it modified Roman Thought and Life—Influence of Philosophy on Christianity—Influence on modern Civilization
CHAPTER IX. SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AMONG THE ROMANS.The Mathematical Genius of the Old Astronomers—Their Labors and
Discoveries—Extent of Astronomical Knowledge—The Alexandrian School—
The Science of Geometry and how far carried—Great Names—Medicine—
Geography—Other Physical Sciences and their limited Triumphs
The Vices and Miseries of Roman Society—Social Inequalities—
Disproportionate Fortunes—The Wealth and Corruption of Nobles—
Degradation of the People—Vast Extent of Slavery—The Condition of
Women—Demoralizing Games and Spectacles—Excessive Luxury and squalid
Misery—Money-making—Imperial Misrule—Universal Egotism and
Insensibility to grand Sentiments—Hopelessness of Reform—Preparation
for Ruin
False Security of the Roman People—Their stupendous Delusions—The Invasion of Barbarians—Their Characteristics—Their alternate Victory and Defeat—Desolation of the Provinces—The Degeneracy of the Legions— General Imbecility and Cowardice—Great public Misfortunes—General Union of the Germanic Nations—Their Leaders—Noble but vain Efforts of a Succession of warlike Emperors—The rising Tide of Barbarians—Their irresistible Advance—The Siege and Sack of Rome—The Fall of Cities— Miseries of all Classes—Universal Despair and Ruin—The Greatness of the Catastrophe—Reflections on the Fall of Rome
CHAPTER XII. THE REASONS WHY THE CONSERVATIVE INFLUENCES OF PAGAN CIVILIZATION DID NOT ARREST THE RUIN OF THE ROMAN WORLD.Necessary Corruption of all Institutions under Paganism—Glory succeeded by Shame—The Army a worn-out Mechanism—The low Aims of Government— Difficulties of the Emperors—Laws perverted or unenforced—The Degeneracy of Art—The Frivolity of Literature—The imperfect Triumph of Philosophy—Nothing Conservative in human Creations—Necessity of Aid from foreign and Divine Sources
CHAPTER XIII. WHY CHRISTIANITY DID NOT ARREST THE RUIN OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.The Victories of Christianity came too late—Small Number of Converts when Christianity was a renovating Power—Their comparative Unimportance in a political and social View for three Centuries—The Church constructs a Polity for Itself rather than seeks to change established Institutions—Rapid Corruption of Christianity when established, and Adoption of Pagan Ideas and Influences—No Renovation of worn-out Races— No Material on which Christianity could work—Not the Mission of the Church to save Empires, but the Race—A diseased Body must die
CHAPTER XIV. THE LEGACY OF THE EARLY CHURCH TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.The great Ideas which the Fathers propounded—The Principle of Self- sacrifice, seen especially in early Martyrdoms—The Idea of Benevolence in connection with public and private Charities—Importance of public Preaching—Pulpit Oratory—The Elaboration of Christian Doctrine—Its Connection with Philosophy—Church Psalmody—The Principle of Christian Equality—Its Effects on Slavery and the Elevation of the People—The Social Equality of the Sexes—Superiority in the condition of the modern over the ancient Woman—The Idea of Popular Education—The Unity of the Church