These sketches of social life at the close of the Republican period have been written without any intention of proving a point, or any pre-conceived idea of the extent of demoralisation, social, moral, or political, which the Roman people had then reached. But a perusal of Mr. Balfour's suggestive lecture on "Decadence" has put me upon making a very succinct diagnosis of the condition of the patient whose life and habits I have been describing. The Romans, and the Italians, with whom they were now socially and politically amalgamated, were not in the last two centuries B.C. an old or worn-out people. It is at any rate certain that for a century after the war with Hannibal Rome and her allies, under the guidance of the Roman senate, achieved an amount of work in the way of war and organisation such as has hardly been performed by any people before or since; and even in the period dealt with in this book, in spite of much cause for misgiving at home, the work done by Roman and Italian armies both in East and West shows beyond doubt that under healthy discipline the native vigour of the population could assert itself. We must not forget, however severely we may condemn the way in which the work was done, that it is to these armies, in all human probability, that we owe not only the preservation of Graeco-Italian culture and civilisation, but the opportunity for further progress. The establishment of definite frontiers by Pompeius and Caesar, and afterwards by Augustus and Tiberius, brought peace to the region of the Mediterranean, and with it made possible the development of Roman law and the growth of a new and life-giving religion.

But peoples, like individuals, if offered opportunities of doing themselves physical or moral damage, are only too ready to accept them. Time after time in these chapters we have had to look back to the age following the war with Hannibal in order to see what those opportunities were; and in each case we have found the acceptance rapid and eager. We have seen wealth coming in suddenly, and misused; slave-labour available in an abnormal degree, and utilised with results in the main unfortunate; the population of the city increasing far too quickly, yet the difficulties arising from this increase either ignored or misapprehended. We have noticed the decay of wholesome family life, of the useful influence of the Roman matron, of the old forms of the State religion; the misconception of the true end of education, the result partly of Greek culture, partly of political life; and to these may perhaps be added an increasing liability to diseases, and especially to malaria, arising from economic blunders in Italy and insanitary conditions of life in the city. All these opportunities of damage to the fibre of the people had been freely accepted, and with the result that in the age of Cicero we cannot mistake the signs and symptoms of degeneracy.

But it would be a mistake to jump to the conclusion that this degeneracy had as yet gone too far to be arrested. It was assuredly not that degeneracy of senility which Mr. Balfour is inclined to postulate as an explanation of decadence. So far as I can judge, the Romans were at that stage when, in spite of unhealthy conditions of life and obstinate persistence in dangerous habits, it was not too late to reform and recover. To me the main interest of the history of the early Empire lies in seeking the answer to the question how far that recovery was made. If these chapters should have helped any student to prepare the ground for the solution of this problem their object will have been fully achieved.

[Illustration: Stanfords Geog. Estab. London]

INDEX

Accius
Aedicula
Aediles, the
Aemilia, Via. See Via Aemilia
Aemilius, Pons. See Pons Aemilius
Aeneas
Aerarium, the
Aesopus, the actor
Afranius
Africa, province of
Agrippa
Alexandria
Alexis (Atticus's slave)
Amafinius
Ambitu, lex de
Anio, the river
Anna Perenna, festival of
Annona
Antioch
Antiochus (the physician)
Antium, Cicero's villa at
Antony
Apodyterium
Apollinares, Ludi. See Ludi Apollinares
Apollonia
Appia, Via. See Via Appia
Appius Claudius Caecus
Aqua Appia
Aqua Tepula
Aqueducts
Ara maxima
Ara Pacis
Argentarii
Argiletum, the
Arpinum, Cicero's villa at
Ars amatoria (Ovid's)
Arval brothers, the
Arx, the
Asia, province of
Astura, Cicero's villa at
Atellanae, fabulae. See Fabulae Atellanae
Atrium
sutorium,
Vestae
Atticus
house of,
wealth of,
as money-lender,
the sister of,
the slave of,
Cicero's letters to, passim,
Augury
Augustus
alleged proposal of, to remove the capital,
attitude of towards plebs urbana,
water-supply under,
the grandfather of,
as a social reformer,
marriage laws of,
furthers public comfort,
restoration of temples by,
attempts at religious revival,
Aventine hill

Baiae
Balbus, Cornelius, the younger
Bankruptcy laws
Basilicae, the
Baths, public
Bath-rooms
Bauli
Bithynia, province of
Blanditia
Bona Dea, festival of
Boscoreale
Brutus (Cicero's)
Brutus, Decimus
Bulla
Byzantium

Caecilius
Caelian hill
Caelius Autipater
Caelius (M.) Rufus
Caesar, Julius
alleged proposal of, to remove the capital
extends one of the Basilicae,
reduces
corn gratuities;
regulations of, for the government of the city;
debts of;
character of;
as historian;
joined by Caelius;
restores credit in Italy;
and Cleopatra;
clemency of;
sale of prisoners by;
dismisses surrendered armies;
foundation at Corinth by;
entertained by Cicero;
habits of;
as aedile;
summons Publilius to Rome;
as Pontifex Maximus;
speech of, in Sallust;
consents to be deified;
and passim
Calceus
Caldarium
Calvus
Camillus
Campagua, the
Campania
Campus Martius
Caninius
Capena, Porta. See Porta Capena
Capital at Rome
Capitol, the
Capitoline hill
Capua
Carceres, the
Carinae, the
Carmentalis, Porta. See Porta Carmentalis
Castella
Castor, temple of
Catiline
Cato major
Cato minor
Catullus
Catulus the elder
Cena
Censor, the
Censoria locatio
Ceres
Ceriales, Ludi. See Ludi Ceriales
Cethegus
Chariot-racing
Chrysippus
Cicero, birthplace of;
house of;
borrows money;
as a man of business;
and the publicani;
relation of, to the governing aristocracy;
letters of;
as a philosopher;
and Clodia;
views on education;
influence of philosophers upon;
and the slave question;
and the use of slaves for seditious purposes;
villas of;
undertakes the Ludi Romani;
religious views of;
and passim
Cicero, Marcus
Cicero, Quintus
Cilician pirates
Circus Flaminius
Circus Maximus
Cleopatra
Clients
Clivus Capitolinus
Clivus sacer
Cloaca maxima
Clodia
Clodius
Cluvius
Coemptio
Coenaculum
Coinage
Collegia
Colline gate, Sulla's victory at the,
Colosseum, the
Columella
Comedy
Comissatio
Comitium, the
Commercii, ius
Compluvium
Concordia, temple of
Conducticii
Confarreatio
Coniugalia praecepta (Plutarch's)
Connubii, ius
Constantine, arch of
Consul, the
Consus, altar of
Contubernium
Convivium
Copa ("Virgil's")
Corfinium
Cornelia
Cornelius
Crassus
Cumae, Cicero's villa at
Curia, the
Curio

Debtors
Declamatio
Deductio
Democritus
Deorum, De Natura (Cicero's)
Diana, temple of
Die natali, De (Censorinus's)
Diffarreatio
Diomedes, villa of
Dionysius of Halicarnassus
Dionysus, worship of
Di Penates. See Penates
Diphilus, the actor
Divorce
Dolia
Domus
Dos
Drama, the
Dyrrhachium, importation of corn
into; battle of

Egypt
Emetics, use of
Ennius
Epicureanism
Epicurus
Epulum Jovis
Equester, Ordo. See Ordo equester
Equirria
Equites. See Ordo equester
Ergastula
Esquiline hill
Etruscans, the
Evander
Exedra

Fabius, arch of
Fabri ferrarii
Fabulae Atellanae; palliatae;
togatae
Familiae urbanae
Fate
Fercula
Feriae
Festa
Figuli
Figulus, Nigidius
Flaccus, Verrius
Flamen Dialis;
Quirinalis
Flaminius
Flammeum
Florales, Ludi. See Ludi Florales
Foeneratores
Foenus
Formiae, Cicero's villa at
Forum Boarium
Forum Romanum
FriedlÄnder
Frontinus
Fullones
Funeral games
Furrina, the grove of

Gabinius
Gellius, Aulus
Genseric
Gilds. See Collegia
Gladiators
Gracchus, Gaius
Gracchus, Tiberius
Grammaticus
Grassatores
Greeks

Hannibal
Hercules
Hirtius
Honorum, ius
Horace
Hortensius
Horti Caesaris

Ientaculum
Impluvium
Institutio Oratoris (Quintilian's)
Insulae
Inventione, De (Cicero's)
Isis, worship of
Iura
Ius civile
Ius divinum
Ius gentium

Janiculum, the
Janus, "temple" of
Julius Obsequens
Juno, temple of
Jupiter
Jupiter Farreus; Julius;
Optimus Maximus, temple of;
Stator, temple of
Juturna, spring of

"King," game of

Laberius
Lar
Lares, shrine of
Latifundium
Latina, Via. See Via Latina
Latins, the
Latium
Law-courts, the
Lectisternia
Lectus; consularis
genialis
Legibus, De (Cicero's)
Lentulus
Lepidus
Liberalia, the
Libertinus
Libertus
Liternum, Scipio's villa at
Livius Andronicus
Livy
Lucretius
Lucretius Vespillo, Q.
Lueullus
Ludi, Apollinares; Ceriales;
Florales;
Magni, see Romani; Megalenses;
Novemdiales; Plebeii;
Romani;
Victoriae
Ludus Trojae
Lupercal, the
Lupercalia, the

Magister
Magna Mater
Mancipes
Manes
Mangones
Manus
Marcius Rex, Q.
Marius
Mars; temple of
Martial
Matrimonium, iustum
Megaleuses, Ludi. See Ludi Megalenses
Mensa
Mensae; rationes
Meridiatio
Metae, the
Metellus Celer
Metellus Macedonicus
Milo
Mimes
Minerva, temple of
Missio in bona
Missus
Molo
Mommsen
Money-lenders
Moretum ("Virgil's")
Mos majorum
Muliones
Munera

Nefas
Negotiatores
Negotium
Nepos, Cornelius
Neptunalia, the
Nicomedes, king of Bithynia
Novemdiales, Ludi. See Ludi Novemdiales
Novas homo
Numa
Nummularii

Obaerati
Oecus
Officiis, De (Cicero's)
Operarii
Opifices
Oppia, lex
Oppius Mons
Oratore, De (Cicero's)
Ordo equester;
senatorius
Oseans, the
Ostia
Ovid

Pacuvius
Palatine hill
Palliatae, fabulae. See Fabulae
palliatae
Panaetius
Pantomimus
Participes
Patronus
Paullus, L. Aemilius
Paupereuli
Peculium
Penates, the;
temple of the
Pergamum
Peristylium
Permutatio
Pero
Perscriptio
Persona
Phaedrus the Epicurean
Philippi, battle of
Philippus (tribune)
Philo the Academician
Philodemus
Pietas
Piso, Calpurnius
Pistores
Plaetoria, lex
Plautus
Plebeii, Ludi. See Ludi Plebeii
Pliny, the elder; the younger
Plutarch
Pollio, Asinius
Polybius
Pomerium
Pompeii
Pompeius
house of
theatre of
Pomponia
Pons Aemilius
Ponte Rotto
Pontifex Maximus
Porta Capena
Carmentalis
Esquilina
Portunus
Posidonius
Praecia
Praedes
Praediola
Praetor, the
Prandium
Priesthoods
Promagister
Pronuba
Provinces, the
Provocations, ius
Ptolemy Auletes
Publicani
Publicum
Publilius Syrus
Punic wars
Puteoli, Cicero's villa at
Puticulus
Pythagoreanism

Quaestiones Conviviales (Plutarch's)
Quaestorship, the
Quintilian
Quirinal (hill)
Quirinus

Rabirius Postumus
Redemptor
Regia, the
Religio
Religion
Repetundis, quaestio de
Republica, De (Cicero's)
Res, mancipi
Rex, the
Rex sacrorum
Rhetorica ad Herennium
Romulus
Roscius, the actor
Rostra, the
Rutilius

Sabines, the
Saccarii
Sacra,
privata;
publica;
via, see Via Sacra
St. Peter, church of
Salaminians, the
Sallust
Samnium
San Gregorio, via di
Sarpedon
Sassia
Saturnalia, the
Saturninus
Saturnus, temple of
Scaevola, Mucius
Scaurus
Scipio Aemilianus,
Asiaticus,
Nasica,
Sempionia
Senate, the
Senatorius, ordo. See Ordo senatorius
Senec,
"Servian wall"
Servilius
Sibylline books, the
Slaves
Societates publicanorum
Socii
Sodalicia, collegia. See Collegia
Soleae
Somnium Scipionis (Cicero's)
Spanish silver mines
Spartacus
Spina
Sponsalia
Sportula
Stoics, the
Stola matronalis
Strabo
Subura, the
Suffragii, ius
Sulla
Sulla, P.
Sulpicius (S.), Rufus
Sun-dials
Supplicationes
Synthesis

Tabellarii
Tabernae
Tabernae argentariae
Tablinum
Tabulae
Tabulae novae
Tabularia, the
Tepidarium
Terence
Terentia
Theatre, the
Theatre, building of a
Thurii
Tiber
Tiber island
Tibicines
Tibur
Time, divisions of, in the day
Tiro (Cicero's slave)
Tirocinium fori
Titus, arch of
Toga; libera; praetexta; virilis
Togatae, fabulae. See Fabulae togatae
Tragedy
Tributum
Triclinia
Triumph, a
Trofei di Mario
Tullia (Cicero's daughter)
Tullianum, the
Tunica
Turia, the story of
Tusculum, Cicero's villa at
Tutela
Tutor
Twelve Tables, the

Usus

Valerius Maximus
Varro
Varro, Terentius (consul)
Veii
Velabrum, the
Velia, the
Venationes
Venus Victrix, temple of
Verres
Vesta; temple of
Vestal Virgins
Veterans, Roman
Via Aurelia; Appia; Collatina; Latina; Sacra
Victoriae, Ludi. See Ludi Victoriae
Vicus Tuscus
Vilicus
Villa pseudurbana
Vinalia, the
Vindicta
Virgil
Voconia, lex

Water-clocks, introduction of