Beacon Lights of History, Volume 04

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Beacon Lights of History,
Volume 04

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Beacon Lights of History, Volume IV,
by John Lord
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Title: Beacon Lights of History, Volume IV
Author: John Lord
Release Date: December 23, 2003 [eBook #10522]
Language: English
Character set encoding: iso-8859-1
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEACON
LIGHTS OF HISTORY, VOLUME IV***
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Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team

LORD'S LECTURES
BEACON LIGHTS OF HISTORY, VOLUME IV
IMPERIAL ANTIQUITY.
BY JOHN LORD, LL.D.,
AUTHOR OF "THE OLD ROMAN WORLD," "MODERN
EUROPE," ETC., ETC.

CONTENTS
CYRUS THE GREAT.
ASIATIC SUPREMACY.
The Persian Empire Persia Proper Origin of the Persians The Religion
of the Iranians Persian Civilization Persian rulers Youth and education
of Cyrus Political Union of Persia and Media The Median Empire
Early Conquests of Cyrus The Lydian Empire Croesus, King of Lydia
War between Croesus and Cyrus Fate of Croesus Conquest of the
Ionian Cities Conquest of Babylon Assyria and Babylonia Subsequent
conquests of Cyrus His kindness to the Jews Character of Cyrus
Cambyses; Darius Hystaspes Xerxes Fall of the Persian Empire
Authorities
JULIUS CAESAR.
IMPERIALISM.
Caesar an instrument of Providence His family and person Early
manhood; marriage; profession; ambition Curule magistrates; the
Roman Senate Only rich men who control elections ordinarily elected
Venality of the people Caesar borrows money to bribe the people
Elected Quaestor Gains a seat in the Senate Second marriage, with a

cousin of Pompey Caesar made Pontifex Maximus; elected Praetor
Sent to Spain; military services in Spain Elected Consul; his reforms;
Leges Juliae Opposition of the Aristocracy Assigned to the province of
Gaul His victories over the Gauls and Germans Character of the races
he subdued Amazing difficulties of his campaigns Reluctance of the
Senate to give him the customary honor Jealousy of the nobles;
hostility between them and Caesar The Aristocracy unfit to govern;
their habits and manners They call Pompey to their aid Neither Pompey
nor Caesar will disband his forces; Caesar recalled Caesar marches on
Home; crosses the Rubicon Ultimate ends of Caesar; the civil war
Pompey's incapacity and indecision; flies to Brundusi Caesar defeats
Pompey's generals in Spain Dictatorship of Caesar Battle of Pharsalia
Death of Pompey in Egypt Battles of Thapsus and of Munda They
result in Caesar's supremacy His services as Emperor His habits and
character His assassination,--its consequences Causes of
Imperialism,--its supposed necessity when Caesar arose; public rebuke
of Caesar by Cicero An historical puzzle Authorities
MARCUS AURELIUS.
THE GLORY OF ROME.
Remarkable character of Marcus Aurelius His parentage and education
Adopted by Antoninus Pius Subdues the barbarians of Germany
Consequences of the German Wars Mistakes of Marcus Aurelius;
Commodus Persecutions of the Christians The "Meditations,"--their
sublime Stoicism Epictetus,--the influence of his writings Style and
value of the "Meditations" Necessities of the Empire Its prosperity
under the Antonines; external glories Its internal weakness; seeds of
ruin Gibbon controverted by Marcus Aurelius Authorities
CONSTANTINE THE GREAT.
CHRISTIANITY ENTHRONED.
Constantine and Diocletian Influence of martyrdoms Influence of
Asceticism,--its fierce protest Rise of Constantine His civil wars for the
supremacy of the Roman world The rival Emperors and their fate:

Maximinian, Galerius, Maxentius, Maximin, Licinius Constantine sole
Emperor over the West and East Foundation of Constantinople,--its
great advantage The pomp and ceremony of the imperial Court Crimes
of Constantine; his virtues Conversion of Constantine His Christian
legislation; edict of Toleration Patronage of the Clergy; union of
Church and State Council of Nice Theological discussion Doctrine of
the Trinity Athanasius and Arius The Nicene Creed Effect of
philosophical discussions on theological truths Constantine's work; the
uniting of Church with State Death of Constantine His character and
services Authorities
PAULA.
WOMAN AS FRIEND.
Female friendship Paganism unfavorable to friendship Character of
Jewish women Great Pagan women Paula, her early life Her conversion
to Christianity Her asceticism Asceticism the result of circumstances
Virtues of Paula Her illustrious friends Saint Jerome and his great
attainments His friendship with Paula His social influence at Rome His
treatment of women Vanity of mere worldly friendship ^Esthetic
mission of woman Elements of permanent friendship Necessity of
social equality Illustrious friendships Congenial tastes in friendship
Necessity of Christian graces Sympathy as radiating from the Cross
Necessity of some common end in friendship The extension of
monastic life Virtues of early monastic life Paula and Jerome seek its
retreats Their residence in Palestine Their travels in the East Their
illustrious visitors Peculiarities of their friendship Death of Paula Her
character and fame Elevation