HISTORY 347 



and forms continued to exist. He completed the 

 subjugation of Spain, and of all that was previously un- 

 conquered south of the Danube. His stepsons, Tiberius 

 and Drusus, with the son of the latter (Germanicus), 

 also endeavoured to subdue the Teutons east of 

 the Rhine, penetrating to the Elbe. The Romans were, 

 however, driven back by the German Arminius (9 A.D.) 

 and never obtained any permanent hold on the land east 

 of the Rhine and north of the Mayn. 



The great distinction of the Romans, apart from their 

 military prowess and their political genius, was their 

 instinct for legislation. They may be called the 

 originators of jurisprudence; and their legal system, 

 which began to be elaborated half a century after 

 Augustus, has had an enormous influence over mediaeval 

 and modern Europe, and its influence still exists. 

 Cicero has been already mentioned, and many of our 

 readers doubtless are acquainted with his works. Julius 

 Caesar was also hardly less celebrated as a writer than 

 as a soldier. The memorable poet Lucretius was a 

 contemporary of Cicero. The familiar expression, " an 

 Augustan Age," however, originated from the fact that 

 the time of the second Roman Emperor was that of the 

 most celebrated of Roman poets Horace, Virgil, and 

 Ovid, as also of the historian Livy. 



Augustus reigned forty-one years, and was succeeded 

 by his adopted stepson, the cruel and jealous Tiberius 

 (14 A.D.), who put to death all those he feared, and was 

 succeeded (37 A.D.) by Caligula (grandson of Drusus) 

 who, after four years of mad wickedness of all kinds, 

 was killed by his soldiers, who elected his uncle Claudius 

 in his place. He was the first emperor chosen by the 

 army, but its choice obtained the ratification of the 

 Senate. Now began the conquest of Britain, which was 



