Page:The City-State of the Greeks and Romans.djvu/24

xx THE CITY-STATE Greece, 300. Consequent loss of vitality in the, 301. Last attempt at independence now taking the form of a real federal union; Achæan League, 302 foll.

CHAPTER XI

Dissolution of the City-State: The Roman Empire

In Alexander's conquests Greece came near to realising a new political system, 306. Alexander representative of Greek ideas; Plutarch's evidence on this point, 307. Alexander's project of a Greek empire, 309; what might have been the result for the City-State, 310. Failure of his plans, 311. Rome takes the place of Alexander, 312. Rome becomes an imperial State, 313; yet continues in form a City-State, 314. Government of the Roman Empire by Roman City-magistrates, 315. Retention of the form of the City-State in the provinces, 317. Failure of the imperial government of the Roman Republic; causes of this, 320 foll. The City-State ceases to exist except in form in the last century B.C., 322.

Necessity of a new political system, 323. Julius Cæsar creates one for the moment, 45 B.C., 324. Augustus builds on Cæsar's foundation; completion of the work, 325. Suggestions for the study of this new system; the imperial constitution, 326. Local government, 328. Extension of the sphere of Roman law, 329. Other lines of research, 330. The Roman Empire at last breaks up, but has lasted long enough to preserve for us the treasures of the City-State, 330.