The city of the seven hills; a book of stories from the history of ancient Rome

Preface

In this volume, the attempt has been made to give a picture of the life and history of the Roman people. So far as it has been feasible, this has been done by means of biographical sketches, selected so as to be illustrative of the Roman character, its virtues and its faults. In this way, it has also been possible to weave into the narrative a more vivid description of the daily life and customs of the men, women and children of Rome, than would have been the case under any other method of treatment. In the last chapter, an attempt is made to relate the old Rome to modern life through a description of some existing remains, and to point out in a few words the way in which the ancient city was merged in the Rome of to-day.

In a work designed for young children, as is this one, it seems desirable that the brutal element of Roman character and history should be eliminated so far as is possible ; and to this end, much has been omitted from the narrative which might properly find a place in a history of Rome for High School use.

The limited view which is here offered, however, is a fundamentally true one, and it may easily be devel-

4 PREFACE.

oped into the accurate historical idea when the proper time comes for more advanced study.

The book is designed especially for use as a supplementary reader for children of the sixth and seventh grades. Inasmuch, however, as some teachers may wish to use it for formal instruction in history, the book has been equipped with maps, summaries of chapters, and a chronological analysis of Roman history. In this way, it is hoped that its use as a textbook may be facilitated without robbing it of its attractiveness as a reader.

Bloomington, Indiana.

November, 1898.

XXIX. Preface

List of Illustrations

The Peninsula of Italy .

Romulus and the Beginning of Rome .

Numa, the Peaceful King

The War with Lars Porsena .

The Stories of Mucius and Cl&lia .

Secession of the Plebeians

How Camillus Captured Veii

The Gauls in Rome

The War with Pyrrhus .

Rome Conquers the World .

The Wars of Caius Marius .

Cicero, the Orator .

Julius C/esar, the Conqueror of Gaul

Rome in the Time of Augustus .

The Empire after Augustus .

The Remains of Ancient Rome

Summaries of Chapters

Chronological Outline .