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The studies set forth in this volume were first planned by Professor Frank Frost Abbott in 1914. In collaboration with the present writer the work was carried on with many interruptions under the general editorship of Professor Abbott until his death, July 23, 1924. For his kindly criticisms and generous help I shall always remain profoundly grateful.

The municipal institutions of the Roman Empire contain in large measure the secret of the vitality and the decay of that ancient civilization which controlled the destinies of the world for a longer span than any imperial power whose history has yet been recorded. For this reason it has been our aim to trace the history of the relations of these municipalities to Rome, their differing status, the development of Roman policy towards them, and the circumstances attending their decline, and therefore the decline of the empire. These matters and certain others clearly relating to them are set forth systematically in the Introduction. In this portion of the book we have made a study of the juridical and fiscal relations to Rome of the communities of various classes, of the political organization and financial systems of these communities, of the attempts which were made to combine them into larger political entities through the provincial assembles, of the development of the municipal policy of Rome, and the decline of the municipality.

The last chapter, on municipal documents, may serve as a technical introduction to Part II of the book, in which are brought together inscriptions and papyri that throw light on the relations which the municipalities bore to Rome. These documents have hitherto been so widely