THE HOMAN EMPIRE. 51 



by poison or excessive drinking, leaving his vast 

 dominions to be divided among his Generals. 

 Asia, Egypt, and Greece, exhibited a continual 

 Bcene of war and desolation ; especially Greece, 

 where there were perpetual struggles between the 

 successors of Alexander for dominion, and the 

 republics for liberty, till the whole was reduced to 

 subjection by the power of Rome. 



Rome, which makes so conspicuous a figure in the 

 history of the world, arose from being a small state, 

 to the utmost extent of territory and power. At 

 first it was governed by Kings, who were expelled 

 for their tyranny ; and two annual magistrates 

 chosen in their place : these with the senate and as- 

 semblies of the people, formed the government not 

 unlike our Kings, Lords, and Commons. The Ro- 

 mans soon engaged in wars with other states of 

 Italy, all of which they conquered, increasing by 

 those means not only their strength but their military 

 knowledge ; and as many of the Italian states were 

 Greek colonies, they had all the advantage of the 

 Grecian art of war improved by their own experi- 

 ence. Being masters of Italy they turned their 

 arms against Sicily, which engaged them with a 

 war with Carthage, a powerful state on the North of 

 Africa, who had colonies in that Island. This war 

 was prosecuted with various success, till the perse- 

 verance and courage of the Romans prevailed, and 

 Carthage was totally subdued. 



The armies of Rome were now become invinci- 

 ble; not only Asia, Egypt, Greece, and the north- 

 ern parts of Africa were subdued, but Spain also 

 and Britain. 



