Fall of the Republic. Causes of the decadence — Destruction of the peasant class — The city plebs — Electoral corruption — Corruption of the Senate — Corruption of the army.
The Revolution. Necessity of the revolution — Civil wars — The Gracchi — Marius and Sulla — Pompey and Cæsar — End of the Republic — Need of peace — Power of the individual.
The Empire at its Height. The twelve Cæsars — The emperor — Apotheosis — Senate and people — The prætorians — Freedmen of the emperors — Despotism and disorder.
The Century of the Antonines. Marcus Aurelius — Conquests of the Antonines.
Imperial Institutions. Extent of the empire in the second century — Permanent army — Deputies and agents of the emperor — Municipal life — Imperial regime.
Social Life Under the Empire. The continued decadence at Rome — The shows — Theatre — Circus — Amphitheatre — Gladiators — The Roman peace — Fusion of the peoples — Superstitions.
Arts and Sciences in Rome. Letters — Imitation of the Greeks — The Augustan Age — Orators and rhetoricians — Importance of the Latin literature and language — Arts — Sculpture and painting — Architecture — Characteristics of Roman architecture — Rome and its monuments.