It has always been characteristic of unadulterated Jewish life to produce much gaiety and cordiality. In that little world of theirs they loved each other, they revered their common history, and their religious ceremonies mingled pleasantly with their daily existence. It was analogous to the separate communities which still exist in Turkish cities, such as the Greek, the Armenian, and the Hebrew quarters at Smyrna, where they are all acquainted, and live and intrigue together. In these little republics, religious affairs always control politics, or rather supply the want of the latter. Amongst them a heresy is an affair of state, and a schism always arises out of some personal difficulty. The Romans, with rare exceptions, never penetrated these secluded quarters. The synagogues published decrees, awarded honors, and acted like real municipalities.[16.16] Their influence was extreme. In Alexandria, it is predominant in all the internal history of the city.[16.17] At Rome the Jews were numerous{6.18} and constituted a body, the support of which was by no means to be despised. Cicero claims the credit of courage for having resisted some of their demands.[16.19] Cæsar protected them, and found them faithful.[16.20] Tiberius was obliged, in order to control them, to resort to the severest measures.[16.21] Caligula, whose reign was most calamitous to them in the East, allowed them freedom of association at Rome.[16.22] Claudius, who favored them in Judea, found it necessary to expel them from the city.[16.23] They were encountered everywhere,[16.24] and it was even said of them as of the Greeks, that when themselves subdued, they had succeeded in imposing laws on their conquerors.[16.25]