视听文本

The better off patricians could afford better weapons and could even afford to serve as cavalry.

装备好的贵族能够买得起更好的武器，甚至能作为骑兵出战

No wonder the idealized picture of Roman life back in the days of the mos maiorum

难怪追随祖先的道路时期罗马生活的理想画卷

included a pater familias, who went from the field to the battle field and back as needed.

包括家父制度家中的父亲从土地到战场然后根据需要，再回到土地上

One such Roman hero was the General Cincinnatus who was literally called from the fields to learn he had been elected dictator.

一位这样的罗马英雄是辛辛纳图斯将军他被从土地上召回知道自己被选为独裁官

The Romans also celebrated the equally heroic mother ho did her work and her absent husband's work while he was gone.

罗马也庆祝了同样英雄的母亲她在丈夫离家时承担自己和丈夫的工作

Since Rome's enemies in her earliest days

因为罗马早期的敌人都是邻邦

were Rome's neighbors, also agricultural societies,

它们也是农业社会

there was a gentlemen's agreement in effect that wars would start after the planting was done, and end in time to harvest the crops.

因此就有了一个君子约定播种之后开战并且及时停战，以收获粮食

Military organization was just part of the Roman success.

军事组织只是罗马成功的一部分

We've seen that the Romans were fanatical about observing religious ritual.

我们看到罗马人热衷于宗教仪式

This fixation upon ritual was part of Roman warfare as well.

宗教仪式是罗马战争的一部分

As shown by the ius fetialis and the concept of the just war.

就像ius fetialis和正义之战的概念显示的

The Romans believed that their deities would grant Roman victory,

罗马人认为他们的神灵会确保罗马获胜

if and only if the Romans had been wronged,

当且仅当罗马人被诬陷才会失败

that is provided the Romans themselves didn't start the war.

也就是罗马人不发动战争就会获胜

The case for war had to be discussed openly by the Roman Senate

战争的情况应该由元老院进行公开讨论

in the presence of the Roman people, meaning that all Roman citizens had at least some,

罗马人要在场也就是说，至少罗马公民

even if it was passive, part in the decision.

能参与决策，尽管是被动决定

Supposedly, Numa Pompilius himself, second king of Rome, established the way by which war was first declared, and then announced by hurling a spear into hostile territory.

可能努马·庞皮利乌斯本人也就是罗马第二位国王建立了发动战争的方式把矛投掷到对方领土上，宣布开始战争

If the hostile territory was too far away,

如果地方领土太远的话

say in Carthage, a spear could be hurled into a special part of the forum,

例如在迦太基，那么矛就被投掷到广场的特定区域

which had been reserved and labeled "hostile territory" for just this purpose.

这个地方被保留，标上地方领土，已达成这个目标

Fetial law or ius fetialis was a distinct and unique reflection of Roman religious scruples.

关于宣战或外交谈判的有关法律是罗马宗教想法的独特反映

On the other hand, even the most monstrous and greedy dictators like Hitler and Stalin in the last century have tried to present themselves as the aggrieved party, before unleashing what is clearly an aggressive war.

另一方面，甚至是最强大最残暴的独裁者如上世纪的希特勒和斯大林一定要把自己放在受害的一方之后才能发动侵略战争

The Roman army fought as well as it did in large part, because all but

罗马军队战斗在部分地区也战斗

the poorest of Roman citizens had a personal stake in the army's success.

因为几乎所有的贫困的罗马公民和军队的胜利有利害关系

By 272 BC, Rome became master of all Italy.

公元前272年，罗马控制了整个意大利

The Latin league was effectively broken up in 338 BC.

拉丁联盟在公元前338年被破坏

Its cities had received Latin rights, which usually, but not always, led to full citizenship.

其中的城市得到了拉丁权利但是不总是会带来完全的公民权

The Etruscan cities were not so much defeated as they were assimilated.

伊特鲁利亚人的城市被攻击的次数少于被吸收的次数

And they tended to receive full Roman citizenship as soon as they were taken over.

人们倾向于在被罗马接管后获得全部罗马公民权

Many other Italian cities saw the writing on the wall and willingly allied themselves with the up and coming new Romans. But some held out.

很多其它的意大利城市看到墙上写的内容愿意和即将到来的新罗马人联合起来但是一些人拒绝了

For example, the powerful mountain tribe called the Samnites.

例如，强大的山区部落名称是萨谟奈人

视频及简介

课程介绍:
本课程对罗马帝国和前苏联的兴衰进行回顾，探讨它们历史变迁的内在规律，并将现代的超级大国——美国与它们进行比较，从而作出对未来可能的一些预测。

原声视频：