The government of the new church was formed like that of the empire and became strong. Other religions were driven out. In time the many offices of the empire were in the hands of the priests or under their influence. Many years later these two governments of the church and the empire quarreled over their rights to rule the people.
THE DOWNFALL OF ROME
How the Teutonic tribes lived
292. The Coming of the Huns and Teutons. North of the Alps, beyond the Danube and the Rhine, and between the North Sea and the Black Sea, was a vast region of wild lands. Here the German or Teutonic tribes had lived for hundreds of years. They had made little advance in ways of living. They still dwelt in poor villages. They loved to fight, or waste their time in idleness and feasts. They were noted for their love of liberty and pure family life. At the time of the invasions (4th century) they were learning to live in towns, to unite in confederations, and to be ruled by elected kings. They had so increased in numbers that more land was needed to afford them a living. This was the main cause of their moving south to the Roman frontiers.
Gradual coming of the Germans
For three hundred years the Germans were restless in their northern homes. But the Roman armies were strong enough to keep them beyond the Danube. Some had come over as soldiers in the Roman legions. By 330 half the troops were German. Some of the more peaceful Germans were allowed to make settlements within the empire. Other Germans came in as slaves, but mainly to work on the farms.
By the end of the fourth century after Christ the Romans had become too weak to keep the Germans back.
