视听文本

This diversity brought desperately needed new blood to roman society.
这种多样性给罗马社会注入了它所急需的新鲜血液。
Four of the five good emperors could trace their ancestors through to either Spain or Southern France.
五贤帝中的四位皇帝，其祖先都可以追溯到西班牙或者法国南部。
Although the principate was a dictatorship built on control of the roman military
尽管元首统治是基于对罗马军队控制基础上的独裁统治，
Augustus' successors made some positive contributions to his legacy.
奥古斯都的继位者还是作出了一些积极贡献。
Tiberius found the ablest governors he could and left them in their jobs as long as they were willing to serve.
提比略找到了最有能力的总督并且给他们无限期的任期，只要他们自己愿意。

Claudius streamlined the government taking it away from the Equestrian class,
克劳狄乌斯精简了政府，将其从骑士阶级手中收回，
which was more concerned with making a personal fortune and replacing them with ex slaves having specialized in administrative skills.
因为这些骑士阶级更关心的是如何让自己发财，克劳狄乌斯任用了一批擅长管理的奴隶来取而代之。
These freed men as they were called, eased the problem of running an empire with their focus and their competence.
这些获得自由的奴隶解决了管理帝国的问题，他们专心致志，颇有能耐。
They tended to look on the Princeps as their patron and leader,
他们倾向于将储君视为自己的主人和领导者，
which made them more loyal and more reliable than the freethinking equestrians.
因此比散漫自由的骑士要更为忠诚可靠。
The inhabitants of the Greek speaking East also flourished under Roman control
东部讲希腊语的居民在罗马的控制下也发展壮大，
although the provinces were still governed by Romans and Latin was the official language.
尽管这些行省还是由罗马人统治拉丁语为官方语言。
The urban Hellenic culture was allowed to continue more or less untouched.
城市里的希腊文化并没有受到干预 。
Provided a city paid its taxes and contributed troops it could retain its own system of magistracies and local government under their traditional names.
只要该城市上缴税务，提供军队，它就可以保留自己传统的行政长官和当地政府。
Greeks who did choose to master the Latin language had the chance to earn Roman citizenship
没有选择学习拉丁语的希腊人也能有机会得到罗马公民身份，
and if they attained citizenship they had the same opportunities political and business as Italian born native speakers of Latin.
如果他们得到了罗马公民身份，就和出生在意大利母语为拉丁语的人拥有一样的政治和商业机会。
Both the apostle Paul and the pagan biographer Plutarc, Greek speakers both were proud to claim Roman citizenship and grateful for the benefits it conferred.
门徒保罗和异教徒传记文学家普鲁塔克母语都是希腊语，但两人都非常自豪能够取得罗马公民身份，也非常感激由此得到的益处。
The Romans were also attentive to the infrastructure of the empire
罗马政府也很注重帝国的基础设施建设，
and spent money on improving the roads building aqueducts and whatever other buildings a large city may find necessary.
斥资改善道路情况，建造输水道以及其它一些大城市所需要的建筑。
The Greek speaking peoples in the lands conquered by Alexander the Great, himself declared a god,
母语为希腊语的人们为亚历山大大帝所征服,亚历山大大帝自称为神，
were also comfortable with having a god emperor.
希腊人民对于拥有一位神帝也没有异议。
As long as they paid homage to the Princeps they were allowed freedom of worship in all other respects.
只要他们臣服于储君，就可以得到其它各方面的自由。
Even the Jews were willing to offer prayers for the emperor's genius or the emperor's guardian spirit and as a result were left alone.
甚至是犹太人都愿意为皇帝的英才或者皇帝的守护神祈祷，因此他们也相安无事。
The Christians who refused to worship the emperor or any part of the emperor as a god were not usually allowed freedom of worship.
而基督徒拒绝崇拜皇帝或者神灵化的皇帝，因此他们通常得不到宗教信仰的自由。

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：