The Old Roman World

The Old Roman World

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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,
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OLD
ROMAN WORLD ***

Produced by Robert Nield, Tom Allen, Tiffany Vergon, Charles
Aldarondo, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading
Team.

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