An introduction to American history, European beginnings . ir lands andflocks to become the spoil of the invaders. They hurriedsouth to the banks of the Danube and sent messengersto ask permission to settle in the Roman provinces onthe other side of the river, where so many Germans hadalready made their homes. The Roman officials gave thedesired permission, although they were astonished by thegreat throngs of immigrants who kept crossing the riverin an unending stream of boats, until their numbersseemed like the sands of the sea. The Roman officials had made no suitable prepara-tions in the wa
An introduction to American history, European beginnings . ir lands andflocks to become the spoil of the invaders. They hurriedsouth to the banks of the Danube and sent messengersto ask permission to settle in the Roman provinces onthe other side of the river, where so many Germans hadalready made their homes. The Roman officials gave thedesired permission, although they were astonished by thegreat throngs of immigrants who kept crossing the riverin an unending stream of boats, until their numbersseemed like the sands of the sea. The Roman officials had made no suitable prepara-tions in the way of food and shelter for these newcomers,until such time as they could make homes for Goths complained bitterly of the treatment they 84 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN HISTORY received, saying that when they were in need of food theRomans took advantage of them by forcing them to selleven their wives and children into slavery, and that oftenthey got only dogs meat in payment. Smarting underthis injustice they resolved to fight for their rights;. Arch of Constantine at Rome, as it appears To-day and they not only fought the Romans, but defeatedthem on their own soil in the battle of Adrianople, and the Goths. Made bold by this success theGermans went further than ever before into the countryof the Romans. Some twenty years after the battle ofAdrianople, Alaric, a Goth who had lived in a Romanprovince much of his life and had even held a positionunder the government, became the leader of the been refused a request for more land for his THE BREAK-UP OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 85 people and better pay for himself, he incited a band ofGoths to revolt against the government, and finally ledthem down through Italy to Rome itself. He capturedthe city with little difficulty. But the splendors of thecapital, with its temples and arches and columned build-ings, impressed him so deeply that he restrained his fol-lowers as far as possible from burning or destroyin
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