succession could do no more than discontinue for a while the former abuses of power, administrate justice, restrain the guilty, and protect the innocent. Many of the evils under which human nature was laboring still remained without a cure; and the empire, after having in the highest degree experienced the effects of wisdom and goodness, was assailed anew with all the abuses of the opposite extreme. - FERGUSON.

In the reign of Hadrian Rome had attained its greatest pitch of architectural splendor; and although some magnificent structures were erected after his time, we must, on the whole, date from this period the decline of the city. - Dyer.

The Jews, whose capital had been taken and destroyed in the preceding century, were still, after their dispersion, unruly and engaged in frequent revolts, which brought down upon them at last the crushing force of Roman

vengeance.

During this century, also, the Christians suffered persecutions, and it is a fact that they fared worse under the rule of the Good Emperors, as they are styled, than under tyrants like Nero. (See, for persecution of the Christians, pages 128, 147, 157.)

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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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