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