THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA; OR, "CONVERSATIONS LEXICON:" BEING A GENERAL DICTIONARY OF ARTS, SCIENCES, LITERATURE, BIOGRAPHY, HISTORY, WITH DISSERTATIONS ON THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF LITERATURE, BY SIR D. K. SANDFORD, A. M., Oxon., D.C.L. ON THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE, BY THOMAS THOMSON, M. D., F. R. S. L. & E., &c., &o. AND ON THE PROGRESS OF THE FINE ARTS, BY ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, Esq. VOLUME VI. BLACKIE & SON, QUEEN STREET, GLASGOW; AND WARWICK SQUARE, LONDON. MDCCCXLVI. THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA; OR, CONVERSATIONS LEXICON. ROME (HISTORY OF). ROME (Roma), the eternal city, as it is often called, with which almost every thing great and memorable that has happened in Europe for 2500 years has been connected, and which, first with the sword, and afterwards with the more powerful arms of religious faith, ruled a large portion of the European world for centuries, and saw people of all climes bend before its majesty, is now only the shadow of its former greatness. Ancient Rome was situated nearly on the site of the modern city, in Latium, on several hills (whence the poetical appellation of the sevenhilled city), on both sides of the river Tiber, not far from the Mediterranean sea; but the principal part of the city lay upon the eastern side of the river. Here was situated the Pincian mount, and on the river lay the Campus Martius, the Capitoline hill, the Roman forum, and mount Aventine. The Quirinal, Palatine, and Coelian hills, formed a second range eastward of the preceding, extending from north to south; the Viminal and On the other side of the Esquiline a third. Tiber lay the Vatican mount and Janiculum. This region was inhabited before the foundation of Rome. The city of Palantium, built by some Greek colonists on the Capitoline mount, was perhaps still in existence when Romulus and Remus led a colony thither from Alba Longa; so that this city was only extended, and Rome The new city proProper was not entirely new. bably derived its name, not from its founder (who was, perhaps, called Romulus from it), but from the river, which, as Servius informs us, was anciently called Rumon. The derivation from the Greek jun (strength) is an absurdity, and of late origin. Two different epochs are assigned for the foundation of Rome. According to Cato, it was built 752, according to Varro, 754 years before Christ. The latter date is generally adopted. The founding of the city commenced with ceremonies borrowed from the Etrurians. Romulus traced a square furrow round the Palatine hill with a plough drawn by two white cattle, and caused a wall of earth to be thrown up in the direction of the furrow. The interior was filled with huts. The history of Rome is divided into three periods, in the first of which Rome was a kingdom, in the second a republic, and in the third an empire. VI. I. From the foundation of the city to the year 245, Rome was a monarchy. Romulus was chosen the first king of the new city. He adopted the Etrurian emblems of royalty-twelve lictors; but A sort of municipal constitution his power, and that of his successors, was so cira free state. cumscribed, that Rome was, even then, in reality, was formed, probably after the model of that of the mother city. The principal points of this constitution are the creation and constitution of the the patricians, or hereditary nobility; the division senate; the origin and permanent establishment of of the people into classes, and the different kinds of popular assemblies (comitia) founded thereupon; the religious institutions; and, finally, the domestic relations of clientship, marriage, and particularly of the power of a father. Romulus, the leader of the colony (from A. U. 1 to 37), increased the number of the citizens by the esta blishment of an asylum, and by the incorporation of a part of the Sabines. Numa Pompilius (39— 82) founded the Roman state-religion; Tullus Hostilius (82-114) conquered Alba, and laid the Ancus Martius (114-138) built Ostium; Tarfoundation for the supremacy of Rome over Latium; quinius Priscus (138-176) carried on a war with the Etrurian confederacy; Servius Tullius (176220), the ablest of the kings, placed Rome at the head of the Latin confederacy, and divided the nation, according to property, into six classes, upon which the comitia centuriata and the census were founded; the seventh and last king, Tarquin the Proud (220-245), aspired to absolute power, and was expelled on account of his tyranny. The constitution was then remodelled (509 B. C.). (See Romulus, Numa, and Tarquinius.) Even at this period, we can perceive in the Romans a manly, free, bold, and ambitious people. Agriculture and war were their chief occupations. In private life, simplicity of manners and pleasures prevailed. II. Rome as a republic, from 245 to 727 A.U. First Period. The royal power, with the same At the commencement of the new goindefiniteness as it had been exercised by the nually. kings, was committed to two consuls chosen anvernment, Rome had to sustain a contest with the sions of the patricians, who arrogated the whole Etrurians and Latins for its freedom. The opprespower to themselves, exasperated the plebeians, and |