Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/21

CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. OF THE STATE OF PERSIA AFTER THE RESTORATION OF THE MONARCHY BY ARTAXERXES. The barbarians of the east and of the north . .232 Revolutions of Asia . ib. The Persian monarchy restored by Artaxerxes . . 233 Reformation of the magian religion 234 Persian theology, two principles 236 Religious worship . . 237 Ceremonies and moral precepts 238 Encouragement of agriculture . ib. Power of the magi . 239 Spirit of persecution . .241 Establishment of the royal autho- rity in the provinces . 242 Extent and population of Persia 243 Recapitulation of the war between the Parthian and Roman em- pire . . . 244 A. D. 165. Cities of Seleucia and Ctesiphon . . 244 A. D. 216. Conquest of Osrhoene by the Romans . . 246 A. D. 230. Artaxerxes claims the provinces of Asia, and de- clares war against the Ro- mans . . . 247 A.D.233. Pretended victory of Alexander Severus . . 248 More probable account of the war . . 249 A. D. 240. Character and maxims of Artaxerxes . . 250 Military power of the Persians . 251 Their infantry contemptible . ib. Their cavalry excellent . 252 CHAPTER IX. THE STATE OF GERMANY TILL THE INVASION OF THE BARBARIANS IN THE TIME OF THE EMPEROR DECIUS. Extent of Germany . . 254 Climate . . ib. Its effects on the natives . 256 Origin of the Germans . ib. Fables and conjectures . 257 The Germans ignorant of letters 258 Of arts and agriculture . 259 Of the use of metals . 261 Their indolence . . 262 Their taste for strong liquors . 263 State of population . 264 German freedom . . 265 Assemblies of the people . 266 Authority of the princes and ma- gistrates . . 267 More absolute over the property than over the persons of the Germans . . 268 Voluntary engagements . 268 German chastity . 269 Its probable causes . . 270 Religion . .272 Its effects in peace . . 273 in war . ib. The bards . . 274 Causes which checked the pro- gress of the Germans . 275 Want of arms . . ib. of discipline . . 276 Civil dissensions of Germany . 277 Fomented by the policy of Rome 278 Transient union against Marcus Antoninus . . 279 Distinction of the German tribes 280 Numbers . . . 281 CHAPTER X. THE EMPERORS DECIUS, CALLUS, ^MILIANUS, VALERIAN, AND GALLIENUS.— THE GENERAL IRRUPTION OF THE BARBARIANS.— THE THIRTY TYRANTS. A. D. 248-268. The nature of the subject . . 282 The emperor Philip . ib. A.D. 249. Services, revolt, victory, and reign of the emperor Decius 283 A.D. 250. He marches against the Goths . . .284 Origin of the Goths from Scandi- navia . , . ib. Religion of the Goths . 286 Institutions and death of Odin . ib. Agreeable but uncertain hypo- thesis concerning Odin . 287 Emigration of the Goths from Scan- dinavia into Prussia . 287 Emigration from Prussia to the Ukraine . .288 The Gothic nation increases in its march . . 289 Distinction of the Germans and Sarmatians ; . 290 Description of the Ukraine . ib. The Goths invade the Roman pro- vinces . - 291 A. D. 250. Various events of the Gothic war . 292