The Indus Civilization c14.3

c14.3

The principal conquests of the Romans were achieved under the republic; and the emperors, for the most part, were satisfied with preserving those dominions which had been acquired by the policy of the senate, the active emulation of the consuls, and the martial enthusiasm of the people. The seven first centuries were filled with a rapid succession of triumphs; but it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into the public councils. Inclined to peace by his temper and situation, it was easy for him to discover that Rome, in her present exalted situation, had much less to hope than to fear from the chance of arms; and that, in the prosecution of remote wars, the undertaking became every day more difficult, the event more doubtful, and the possession more precarious, and less beneficial. The experience of Augustus added weight to these salutary reflections, and effectually convinced him that, by the prudent vigour of his counsels, it would be easy to secure concession, if not to enlarge, the limits of the Roman dominions. Instead of exposing his person and his legions to the arrows of the Parthians, he obtained, by treaty, an honourable reparation for the wrongs done to the Roman name; and instead of attempting to extend the empire beyond the Rhine or the Danube, he confined his attention to the defence of those extensive frontiers. The general system of Augustus was adopted by his successors: and the policy of the empire was directed to the improvement of its internal security, rather than to the extension of its external boundaries.