Epidemics. 273 



It rose to its greatest glory from 490 to 360 B.C. as a 

 centre of learning and refinement, but about 400 years, or 

 rather more, from its foundation, it launched out into a 

 mighty empire, and then it began slowly, and in a little 

 more than a century to rapidly decline, and in about 650 or 

 640 years to be practically an extinct kingdom. 



This in many points bears a remarkable resemblance to 

 the epidemic period between 1177 to 1817, especially when 

 we consider the frequent changes of geographical centres of 

 power in Greece, as Sparta, Athens, Thebes, Macedon, and 

 Corinth ; so the plague had so many endemic centres, 

 not to mention its sudden accession of power in the Black 

 death in Europe in 1348, and the Sweating sickness 

 after. 



Again, Rome more resembled the plague from 550, or 

 thereabouts, to 1817, the earlier part of this plague 

 ravaging all the lands on the Mediterranean, and spreading 

 inland until checked by mountain ranges. But after 1177, 

 or thereabouts, perhaps rather earlier, it outstepped the 

 boundaries of its first spread, and got into Mid and Northern 

 Europe, asserting its dominion over all other diseases during 

 the time of its invasion of any particular city or province. 



Rome spread gradually her power and conquests through- 

 out Italy, then to Carthage, and Macedonia ; and as her first 

 period of development was reached, which would be about 

 90 or 80 B.C., she began to take a wider range, and more 

 comprehensive forms of rule and discipline, in the form of 

 Dictatorship ; and from Marius on to Octavius Caesar she 

 raised the power of her dominion, both in resources and 

 territory, till her sovereignty extended over Central and 

 North-Western Europe, and from Egypt to all Asia Minor. 

 After this period she once or twice extended her dominion 

 towards Persia and the Caspian, but the weight of her 

 empire enfeebled her aggressive powers. 



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