proceeded in the main from the conquered peoples themselves. Thus the character of modern Europe was in large part determined; for, broadly speaking, it owes its condition to the blend which was made between the civilisation of the universalised imperial state and the institutions of the Germanic invaders who shattered that state into fragments.
After these general observations we are ready to come to closer quarters with our theme. The proper introduction to a more precise study of the towns of the empire is a consideration of the municipal history of ancient Italy, for the types of civic community which permeated the western Mediterranean countries during the imperial period were first evolved in Italy, in the Republican age; and in so far as Greek municipalities changed its aspects, this was due to the influence of the Western types. Next will naturally follow a survey of the Western side of the Empire, region by region, to show how, by various methods, the transforming influence which emanated from Italy achieved its work. This will be succeeded by a necessarily brief consideration of the cities in the Eastern section of the Empire, where there was municipal expansion, but no transformation such as was effected in the West. Next will come a short account of the internal administration of the cities in the flourishing period of Roman municipalism, and of their relations with the central administration, succeeded by a brief narrative of the causes which led to decay and ruin. The lectures will conclude with a description in outline of the chief features of social life in the towns of the imperial age. Certain elements in the municipal expansion which were not peculiar to any one district will be most conveniently treated in connexion with the regions where they happened to be most conspicuous. And the same course will be followed in dealing with some matters which deeply affected the municipal history, though they strictly do not form part of it, for instance the growth of the great imperial domains.R. R. E.
