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40 CHAPTER III INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIANITY ON THE CARE OF THE SICK AT the opening of the Christian era the Roman Empire extended over the greater part of Europe, a part of Britain, and great tracts of Asia Minor and Northern Africa. Pre-eminent as a conquering, miHtary empire, it was equally distinguished for its elaborate political, The Roman Empire at legal, and administrative organization, the dawn of j^g pagan religion was, on the whole, Christianity tolerant and free from the more un- intelligent superstitions. The Roman genius was extremely practical and business-like, and Ro- man officials allowed the freemen of conquered populations free action and thought on all but two topics — economics and politics. As in Rus- sia under the Czars, subjects who never forgot those taboos might live in peace. The political economy of Rome was based on slavery, the insti- tution that finally undermined the empire. The 40