Читать книгу Beacon Lights of History (Vol.1-14) - John Lord - Страница 54

Table of Contents

CYRUS THE GREAT.

ASIATIC SUPREMACY.

The Persian Empire

Persia Proper

Origin of the Persians

The Religion of the Iranians

Persian Civilization

Persian rulers

Youth and education of Cyrus

Political Union of Persia and Media

The Median Empire

Early Conquests of Cyrus

The Lydian Empire

Croesus, King of Lydia

War between Croesus and Cyrus

Fate of Croesus

Conquest of the Ionian Cities

Conquest of Babylon

Assyria and Babylonia

Subsequent conquests of Cyrus

His kindness to the Jews

Character of Cyrus

Cambyses; Darius Hystaspes

Xerxes

Fall of the Persian Empire

Authorities

JULIUS CAESAR.

IMPERIALISM.

Caesar an instrument of Providence

His family and person

Early manhood; marriage; profession; ambition

Curule magistrates; the Roman Senate

Only rich men who control elections ordinarily elected

Venality of the people

Caesar borrows money to bribe the people

Elected Quaestor

Gains a seat in the Senate

Second marriage, with a cousin of Pompey

Caesar made Pontifex Maximus; elected Praetor

Sent to Spain; military services in Spain

Elected Consul; his reforms; Leges Juliae

Opposition of the Aristocracy

Assigned to the province of Gaul

His victories over the Gauls and Germans

Character of the races he subdued

Amazing difficulties of his campaigns

Reluctance of the Senate to give him the customary honor

Jealousy of the nobles; hostility between them and Caesar

The Aristocracy unfit to govern; their habits and manners

They call Pompey to their aid

Neither Pompey nor Caesar will disband his forces; Caesar recalled

Caesar marches on Home; crosses the Rubicon

Ultimate ends of Caesar; the civil war

Pompey's incapacity and indecision; flies to Brundusi

Caesar defeats Pompey's generals in Spain

Dictatorship of Caesar

Battle of Pharsalia

Death of Pompey in Egypt

Battles of Thapsus and of Munda

They result in Caesar's supremacy

His services as Emperor

His habits and character

His assassination,--its consequences

Causes of Imperialism,--its supposed necessity when Caesar

arose; public rebuke of Caesar by Cicero

An historical puzzle

Authorities

MARCUS AURELIUS.

THE GLORY OF ROME.

Remarkable character of Marcus Aurelius

His parentage and education

Adopted by Antoninus Pius

Subdues the barbarians of Germany

Consequences of the German Wars

Mistakes of Marcus Aurelius; Commodus

Persecutions of the Christians

The "Meditations,"--their sublime Stoicism

Epictetus,--the influence of his writings

Style and value of the "Meditations"

Necessities of the Empire

Its prosperity under the Antonines; external glories

Its internal weakness; seeds of ruin

Gibbon controverted by Marcus Aurelius

Authorities

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT.

CHRISTIANITY ENTHRONED.

Constantine and Diocletian

Influence of martyrdoms

Influence of Asceticism,--its fierce protest

Rise of Constantine

His civil wars for the supremacy of the Roman world

The rival Emperors and their fate: Maximinian, Galerius, Maxentius, Maximin, Licinius

Constantine sole Emperor over the West and East

Foundation of Constantinople,--its great advantage

The pomp and ceremony of the imperial Court

Crimes of Constantine; his virtues

Conversion of Constantine

His Christian legislation; edict of Toleration

Patronage of the Clergy; union of Church and State

Council of Nice

Theological discussion

Doctrine of the Trinity

Athanasius and Arius

The Nicene Creed

Effect of philosophical discussions on theological truths

Constantine's work; the uniting of Church with State

Death of Constantine

His character and services

Authorities

PAULA.

WOMAN AS FRIEND.

Female friendship

Paganism unfavorable to friendship

Character of Jewish women

Great Pagan women

Paula, her early life

Her conversion to Christianity

Her asceticism

Asceticism the result of circumstances

Virtues of Paula

Her illustrious friends

Saint Jerome and his great attainments

His friendship with Paula

His social influence at Rome

His treatment of women

Vanity of mere worldly friendship

^Esthetic mission of woman

Elements of permanent friendship

Necessity of social equality

Illustrious friendships

Congenial tastes in friendship

Necessity of Christian graces

Sympathy as radiating from the Cross

Necessity of some common end in friendship

The extension of monastic life

Virtues of early monastic life

Paula and Jerome seek its retreats

Their residence in Palestine

Their travels in the East

Their illustrious visitors

Peculiarities of their friendship

Death of Paula

Her character and fame

Elevation of woman by friendship

Authorities

CHRYSOSTOM.

SACRED ELOQUENCE.

The power of the Pulpit

Eloquence always a power

The superiority of the Christian themes to those of Pagan antiquity

Sadness of the great Pagan orators

Cheerfulness of the Christian preachers

Chrysostom

Education

Society of the times

Chrysostom's conversion, and life in retirement

Life at Antioch

Characteristics of his eloquence; his popularity as orator

His influence

Shelters Antioch from the wrath of Theodosius

Power and responsibility of the clergy

Transferred to Constantinople, as Patriarch of the East

His sermons, and their effect at Court

Quarrel with Eutropius

Envy of Theophilus of Alexandria

Council of the Oaks; condemnation to exile

Sustained by the people; recalled

Wrath of the Empress

Exile of Chrysostom

His literary labors in exile

His more remote exile, and death

His fame and influence

Authorities

SAINT AMBROSE.

EPISCOPAL AUTHORITY.

Dignity of the Episcopal office in the early Church

Growth of Episcopal authority,--its causes

The See of Milan; election of Ambrose as Archbishop

His early life and character; his great ability

Change in his life after consecration

His conservation of the Faith

Persecution of the Manicheans

Opposition to the Arians

His enemies; Faustina

Quarrel with the Empress

Establishment of Spiritual Authority

Opposition to Temporal Power

Ambrose retires to his cathedral; Ambrosian chant

Rebellion of Soldiers; triumph of Ambrose

Sent as Ambassador to Maximus; his intrepidity

His rebuke of Theodosius; penance of the Emperor

Fidelity and ability of Ambrose as Bishop

His private virtues

His influence on succeeding ages

Authorities

SAINT AUGUSTINE.

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY.

Lofty position of Augustine in the Church

Parentage and birth

Education and youthful follies

Influence of the Manicheans on him

Teacher of rhetoric

Visits Rome

Teaches rhetoric at Milan

Influence of Ambrose on him

Conversion; Christian experience

Retreat to Lake Como

Death of Monica his mother

Return to Africa

Made Bishop of Hippo; his influence as Bishop

His greatness as a theologian; his vast studies

Contest with Manicheans,--their character and teachings

Controversy with the Donatists,--their peculiarities

Tracts: Unity of the Church and Religious Toleration

Contest with the Pelagians: Pelagius and Celestius

Principles of Pelagianism

Doctrines of Augustine: Grace; Predestination; Sovereignty of God; Servitude of the Will

Results of the Pelagian controversy

Other writings of Augustine: "The City of God;" Soliloquies; Sermons

Death and character

Eulogists of Augustine

His posthumous influence

Authorities

THEODOSIUS THE GREAT.

LATTER DAYS OF ROME.

The mission of Theodosius

General sense of security in the Roman world

The Romans awake from their delusion

Incursions of the Goths

Battle of Adrianople; death of Valens

Necessity for a great deliverer to arise; Theodosius

The Goths,--their characteristics and history

Elevation of Theodosius as Associate Emperor

He conciliates the Goths, and permits them to settle in the Empire

Revolt of Maximus against Gratian; death of Gratian

Theodosius marches against Maximus and subdues him

Revolt of Arbogastes,--his usurpation

Victories of Theodosius over all his rivals; the Empire once more united under a single man

Reforms of Theodosius; his jurisprudence

Patronage of the clergy and dignity of great ecclesiastics

Theodosius persecutes the Arians

Extinguishes Paganism and closes the temples

Cements the union of Church with State

Faults and errors of Theodosius; massacre of Thessalonica

Death of Theodosius

Division of the Empire between his two sons

Renewed incursions of the Goths,--Alaric; Stilicho

Fall of Rome; Genseric and the Vandals

Second sack of Rome

Reflections on the Fall of the Western Empire

Authorities

LEO THE GREAT.

FOUNDATION OF THE PAPACY.

Leo the Great,--founder of the Catholic Empire

General aim of the Catholic Church

The Church the guardian of spiritual principles

Theocratic aspirations of the Popes

Origin of ecclesiastical power; the early Popes

Primacy of the Bishop of Rome

Necessity for some higher claim after the fall of Rome

Early life of Leo

Elevation to the Papacy; his measures; his writings

His persecution of the Manicheans

Conservation of the Faith by Leo

Intercession with the barbaric kings; Leo's intrepidity

Desolation of Rome

Designs and thoughts of Leo

The jus divinum principle; state of Rome when this principle was advocated Its apparent necessity The influence of arrogant pretensions on the barbarians They are indorsed by the Emperor The government of Leo The central power of the Papacy Unity of the Church No rules of government laid down in the Scriptures Governments the result of circumstances The Papal government the need of the Middle Ages The Papacy in its best period Greatness of Leo's character and aims Fidelity of his early successors, and perversions of later Popes Authorities