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THE BYZANTINES. II5 was destroyed by the German emperor Otto the Great. In the end the empire succeeded, often by arms, at other times by diplomacy, but most of all by the influence of religion, commerce, and civilization, not only in protecting itself against the changes of these successive inroads, but in laying the foundation of civilization and even of future greatness amid these hostile barbarous tribes. The Oriental enemies of the empire were of a different sort. In their case the Byzantine power had not to deal with barbarous tribes which might first be conquered, but could after- ward be assimilated to the imperial state by the influences of civilization and Christianity. In the East, new Rome was called to wrestle with mighty nations possessed of a highly organized polity and animated by a special religious faith. Europe and Asia were thus brought face to face in implacable contrast and collision; the empire of the Byzantines is deserving of last- ing gratitude for the long contention by which it continued the traditions of classical Hellas. The continuity of these traditions was espe- cially marked in the struggle of the empire with