罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (2).docxVIP

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经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

Chapter01:TheExtentOfTheEmpireInTheAgeOfTheAntonines.Antoninies.

Part1.Introduction.TheExtentAndMilitaryForceOfTheEmpireInTheAgeOfTheAntonines.

InthesecondcenturyoftheChristianAera,theempireofRomecomprehendedthefairestpartoftheearth,andthemostcivilizedportionofmankind.Thefrontiersofthatextensivemonarchywereguardedbyancientrenownanddisciplinedvalor.Thegentlebutpowerfulinfluenceoflawsandmannershadgraduallycementedtheunionoftheprovinces.Theirpeacefulinhabitantsenjoyedandabusedtheadvantagesofwealthandluxury.Theimageofafreeconstitutionwaspreservedwithdecentreverence:theRomansenateappearedtopossessthesovereignauthority,anddevolvedontheemperorsalltheexecutivepowersofgovernment.Duringahappyperiodofmorethanfourscoreyears,thepublicadministrationwasconductedbythevirtueandabilitiesofNerva,Trajan,Hadrian,andthetwoAntonines.Itisthedesignofthis,andofthetwosucceedingchapters,todescribetheprosperousconditionoftheirempire;andafterwards,fromthedeathofMarcusAntoninus,todeducethemostimportantcircumstancesofitsdeclineandfall;arevolutionwhichwilleverberemembered,andisstillfeltbythenationsoftheearth.

TheprincipalconquestsoftheRomanswereachievedundertherepublic;andtheemperors,forthemostpart,weresatisfiedwithpreservingthosedominionswhichhadbeenacquiredbythepolicyofthesenate,theactiveemulationsoftheconsuls,andthemartialenthusiasmofthepeople.Thesevenfirstcenturieswerefilledwitharapidsuccessionoftriumphs;butitwasreservedforAugustustorelinquishtheambitiousdesignofsubduingthewholeearth,andtointroduceaspiritofmoderationintothepubliccouncils.Inclinedtopeacebyhistemperandsituation,itwaseasyforhimtodiscoverthatRome,inherpresentexaltedsituation,hadm