The Old Roman World

The Old Roman World

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Old Roman World, by John Lord #3 in our series by John Lord
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Title: The Old Roman World
Author: John Lord
Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6839] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on January 31, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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THE OLD ROMAN WORLD
THE GRANDEUR AND FAILURE OF ITS CIVILIZATION
BY JOHN LORD, LL.D.

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


CHAPTER II.
THE MATERIAL GRANDEUR AND GLORY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
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


CHAPTER III.
THE WONDERS OF ANCIENT ROME.
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


CHAPTER IV.
ART IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
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


CHAPTER V.
THE ROMAN CONSTITUTION.
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


CHAPTER VI.
ROMAN JURISPRUDENCE.
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


CHAPTER VII.
ROMAN LITERATURE.
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


CHAPTER VIII.
GRECIAN PHILOSOPHY.
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


CHAPTER X.
INTERNAL CONDITION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
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


CHAPTER XI.
THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE.
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