. Rome : its rise and fall ; a text-book for high schools and colleges. l throne, and to notice what were the actualforces that were giving the events of the period their shapeand course. These were the German barbarians and Chris-tianity. These were the two most vital elements in theGraeco-Roman world of the fifth century. They had, centuriesbefore this, as we have seen, come into certain relationsto the Roman government and to Roman life; but duringthe period lying immediately before us they assumed analtogether new historical interest and importance. The two main matters, then, which will c
. Rome : its rise and fall ; a text-book for high schools and colleges. l throne, and to notice what were the actualforces that were giving the events of the period their shapeand course. These were the German barbarians and Chris-tianity. These were the two most vital elements in theGraeco-Roman world of the fifth century. They had, centuriesbefore this, as we have seen, come into certain relationsto the Roman government and to Roman life; but duringthe period lying immediately before us they assumed analtogether new historical interest and importance. The two main matters, then, which will claim our attentionduring the century yet remaining for our study, will be (1)the struggle between the dying empire and the young Ger-man races of the North and the gradual overrunning of the 415 416 ROME AS AN EMPIRE. Roman provinces by these barbarians ; and (2) the finaltriumph of Christianity, through the aid of the temporalpower, over expiring paganism. 261. The Movements of the Barbarians.—The reigns ofthe co-emperors Valentinian I. and Valens7 were signalized. Germans crossing the Rhine. (After a drawing by Alphonse de Neuville.) by threatening movements of the barbarian tribes, that now,almost at the same moment, began to press with redoubledenergy against all the barriers of the empire. 7 Upon the death of Jovian ( 364), Valentinian, the commanderof the imperial guard, was elected emperor by a council of the generalsof the army and the ministers of the court. He appointed his brotherValens ( 364-378) as his associate in office, and assigned to him theEastern provinces, while reserving for himself the Western. He set uphis own court at Milan, while his brother established his residence atConstantinople. THE LAST CENTURY OF THE EMPIRE. 417 The Alemanni (Germans) made forays across the Rhineinto the Gallic provinces, — sometimes swarming over theriver on the winter ice, — and, before pursuit could bemade, recrossed the river and escaped with their bootyinto t
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