Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/245

 A Century of Disorder that they had as much right as Italy to determine who should be ruler. All this caused infinite confusion and disorder. 274. Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 161-iso). There was also the grow- ing danger of foreign invaders who threatened the Empire. The RESTORATION OF ROMAN TRIUMPHAL ARCH AT ORANGE, FRANCE The Romans built- many such handsome arches to commemorate important victories. There were a number at Rome, naturally; of those built in the chief cities of the Empire several still remain. The one pictured above was built at the Roman colony of Arausio (now called Orange), on the river Rhone, to celebrate a victory over the Gauls, A.D. 21. Modern cities have erected similar arches; for example, Paris, Berlin, London, and New York noble emperor Marcus Aurelius had to face a serious situation dur- ing his reign. He had to repel the troublesome Parthians, who had long infested the eastern boundary. Then barbarian hordes from the German North broke through the frontier defenses and for