Part 85 (1/2)

CHAPTER III

[1] This struggle of the co class (_patricians_) before the law, in religious matters, and in politics, covered two and a half centuries, the old restrictions being broken down but gradually The istrates forbidden to scourge or execute a Ro him a chance to appeal to the people in their popular assena Charta of Roranted officers of their own (_Tribunes_) to protect theainst patrician cruelty and injustice

451-449 BC Laws must be written--Code commission appointed Result, the _Laws of the Twelve Tables_ (R 12); these al systealized

367 BC Right to hold office granted, and one of the Consuls elected each year to be a plebeian

250 BC By this date the distinctions between the two orders had disappeared; patricians and plebeians intermarried and formed one compact body of citizens in the Roman State

[2] ”The scholar who compares carefully the Greek constitutions with the Roman will undoubtedly consider the former to be finer and more finished specimens of political work The imperfect and incomplete character which the Roman constitution presents, at almost any point of its history, the number of institutions it exhibits which appear to be temporary expedients rowth to meet demands as they rose frohly practical character” (Adaes_, 2d ed, p 20)

[3] The same opportunity came to Athens after the Persian Wars and to Sparta after the Peloponnesian War, but neither possessed the creative power along political and governs of subject peoples, to acco permanent

Rome succeeded where previous States had failed because of her larger insight, tolerance, patience, and constructive to create a great world empire

[4] Caesar extended Roman citizenshi+p to certain coan the further extension of the process of assi the conquered provincial into citizenshi+p in the E Emperors until finally, in 212 AD, Roman citizenshi+p was extended to all free-born inhabitants in all the provinces

[5] For example, Balbus, a Spaniard, was Consul in Rome forty years before the Christian era, and another Spaniard, Nerva, had become Emperor before the close of the first century AD Many coovernors in the provinces were provincials by birth

[6] Roman citizenshi+p was much more than a mere name A Roal trial before a Roman court If accused in a capital case he could always protect himself from what he considered an unjust decision by an ”appeal to Caesar”; that is, to the Emperor at Rome The protection of laas always extended to his property and hiht live or travel

[7] Both literature and inscriptions testify abundantly to the affectionate regard in which Roman rule was held The rule ed from a modern point of view, but it was so one before that it was accepted in all quarters

[8] Every house was protected from the evil spirits of the outside world by Janus, and had its sacred fire presided over by Vesta Every house had its protecting Lares The cupboard where the food was stored was blest by and under the charge of the Penates The daily worshi+p of these household deities took place at the fa a little food and a little wine at the sacred hearth Every house father, too, had his guardian Genius, whose festival was celebrated on the master's birthday

In a similar fashi+on the State had its tes, and various divinities ruled the elements and sent or withheld success

Almost every activity in life was presided over by so in it Davidson says, with reference to the practical nature of their religion, that ”While the Athenians rejoiced before their Gods, the Romans kept a debtor and creditor account with theirs, and were very anxious that the balance should be on the right side”

[9] ”Ah the ears, but through the eyes The young, in observing the elders, learned what they would soon have to do themselves, and what they would one day teach to their successor”

[10] Such careful physical training as was given in a Greek _palaestra_ and _gyarded by the Romans as most effeminate

Unlike the Greeks, who strove for a harmonious bodily development, the Romans exercised for usefulness in war Cicero exclai: ”What an absurd systeymnasia_! What a frivolous preparation for the labors and hazards of war!”

[11] Macaulay, in his _Horatius_, describes the results of the education of this early period as follows:

”Then none were for the party, But all were for the State; And the rich reat

Then lands were fairly portioned And spoils were fairly sold; For the Romans were like brothers In the brave days of old”

[12] ”The Rouished from all other nations, not only by the extreme earnestness and precision hich they conceived their law and worked out the consequences of its fundaood sense which made them submit to the law, once established, as an absolute necessity of political health and strength It was this severity in thinking and acting which, reat and powerful”

[13] The lot of a captive in war, everywhere throughout the ancient world, was to be taken and sold as a slave by his captors Many educated Greeks were thus taken in the capture of Greek cities in southern Italy and sold as slaves in Rome These were let out by theirEven the thrifty Cato, who vigorously opposed the new learning on principle, was not averse to per his educated Greek slaves to conduct schools and thus add to his private fortune

[14] These men had little choice otherwise Grain from Spain and Africa becah on his small fared to sell his land to e cattle and sheep ranches He would not elishmen have done to Canada and Australia, but instead went to the cities, where he led a hand-to-mouth existence in a type of tenement house It was frorain and entertainment in return for its votes, was made up