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