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THIRD CENTURY.

(200-300.)

ROME is still the one great power of the world; but the borders of the Roman territory are threatened by the warlike northern tribes, chiefly the Franks and Goths, who make many attacks, which result in constant wars upon the frontiers, yet in general the Romans hold their own against these invaders. Dacia is, however, surrendered to the Goths in 270. The Roman Empire is divided by Diocletian, in the last part of the century, into four parts, under two emperors and two Cæsars. Diocletian himself retains the East, with a Cæsar under him, and gives to his general Maximian the West, also with a sub-ruler or Cæsar. Rome is no longer the head of the empire, the rulers staying nearer the frontiers.

PERSIA now takes the place of Parthia upon the map, a new Persian dynasty being founded in 226, in place of the Parthian dynasty which has lasted since about 256 B. C.

PARTHIA. See above, under PERSIA.

TEUTONIC TRIBES. The warlike northern tribes, which play so important a part in the history of modern Europe (chiefly the Franks and the Goths), threaten the borders of the Roman territory. Dacia is surrendered to the Goths by Rome in 270.

PALMYRA, in Syria, rises to its highest power in this century, maintains a state of independence for a time, but is subjected by Rome in 271.

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Emperors. Septimius Severus, Caracalla, Heliogabalus, Alexander Severus, The Gordians, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, Probus, Diocletian with Maximian.

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Christian Fathers and Writers. — Tertullian, Clement (of Alexandria), Origen, Cyprian, St. Hippolytus.

PERSIA.

New Persian Empire begins under the dynasty of the Sassanidæ.

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ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

The cankers of a calm world and a long peace.
SHAKESPEARE.

N the course of this century the distinction between

IN

Romans and Provincials was wholly obliterated. Some of the best of the emperors came from the provinces. It was an age of violence and lawlessness, the imperial dignity seldom passing from one ruler to another in orderly succession, but being taken by force, or conferred by gift of the soldiery, or obtained by purchase. The persecutions of the Christians which prevailed in the last century continued also in this, under the emperors Severus, Decius, and Aurelian.

It was scarcely possible that the eyes of contemporaries should discover in the public felicity the latent causes of decay and corruption. This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans, introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of the empire. The minds of men were gradually reduced to the same level, the fire of genius was extinguished, and even the military spirit evaporated. GIBBON.

Since Romulus, with a small band of shepherds and outlaws, fortified himself on the hills near the Tiber, ten centuries had already elapsed. During the four first ages, the Romans, in the laborious

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