The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 1Abraham Small and M. Carey, 1816 - Byzantine Empire |
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Alexander ambition ancient Annal Antoninus arms army arts Asia August Augustan History Aurelius Victor authority Balbinus barbarians Cæsar camp Caracalla CHAP character citizens civil Claudius command Commodus conduct conquest consuls dangerous Danube death deserved despotism dignity Dion Cassius discipline Domitian Elagabalus emperor enemy esteem favour fortune freedom frontiers Gallienus Gaul Germans Gordian Goths Greek Hadrian Herodian Hist honours hundred Imperial Italy Julian king laws legions liberal luxury Macrinus magistrates mankind Marcus Maximin ment merit military modern monarchy multitude murder nations nature palace Parthian peace peror Persian person Pertinax Plin possessed præfect Prætorian guards preserved prince provinces rank reign religion republic Rhine Roman empire Roman world Rome secular games senate Severus slaves soldiers soon sovereign spirit successor Syria Tacit Tacitus temple thousand throne tion Trajan tribes troops tyrant valour Velleius Paterculus vices victory viii virtue whilst youth Zosimus
Popular passages
Page 89 - If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus. The vast extent of the Roman empire was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of virtue and wisdom.
Page 32 - The various modes of worship, which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people, as equally true; by the philosopher, as equally false; and by the magistrate, as equally useful.
Page 89 - The labours of these monarchs were overpaid by the immense reward that inseparably waited on their success; by the honest pride of virtue, and by the exquisite delight of beholding the general happiness of which they were the authors.
Page 64 - This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans, introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of the empire. The minds of men were gradually reduced to the same level, the fire of genius was extinguished, and even the military spirit evaporated.
Page 89 - Such princes deserved the honour of restoring the republic, had the Romans of their days been capable of enjoying a rational freedom.
Page 57 - The public roads were accurately divided by milestones, and ran in a direct line from one city to another, with very little respect for the obstacles either of nature or private property. Mountains were perforated, and bold arches thrown over the broadest and most rapid streams.
Page 35 - ... robes. Reasoners of such a temper were scarcely inclined to wrangle about their respective modes of faith, or of worship. It was indifferent to them what shape the folly of the multitude might choose to assume ; and they approached, with the same inward contempt, and the same external reverence, the altars of the Libyan, the Olympian, or the Capitoline Jupiter.
Page 1 - In the second century of the Christian Era, the empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilized portion of mankind. The frontiers of that extensive monarchy were guarded by ancient renown and disciplined valor. The gentle but powerful influence of laws and manners had gradually cemented the union of the provinces. Their peaceful inhabitants enjoyed and abused the advantages of wealth and luxury.
Page 87 - His reign is marked by the rare advantage of furnishing very few materials for history; which is, indeed, little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.
Page 32 - But the firm edifice of Roman power was raised and preserved by the wisdom of ages. The obedient provinces of Trajan and the Antonines were united by laws and adorned by arts. They might occasionally suffer from the partial abuse of delegated authority; but the general principle of government was wise, simple, and beneficent. They enjoyed the religion of their ancestors, whilst in civil honours and advantages they were exalted, by just degrees, to an equality with their conquerors.