The addition of the conquered countries resulted in a new feature of
Roman rule called Provincial government. Retaining their native habits,
religion, laws, etc., the inhabitants of every province were governed by
a military president, sent from Rome, with a staff of officials. The
provincials were required to pay taxes in money and kind; and these
taxes were farmed out by the censors to Roman citizens, who, under the
name of Publicans, settled in the various districts of the provinces.
Thus, like a network proceeding from a center, the political system of
the Romans pervaded the mass of millions of human beings inhabiting the
shores of the Mediterranean; and a vast population of various races and
languages were all bound together by the cohesive power of Roman rule.
[Illustration: =SPLENDORS OF A FESTAL DAY IN ANCIENT ROME=
=The Coliseum= (_kol-e-see´-um_), in the background, was dedicated by
Titus, A. D. 80, in a grand festival of 100 days, at which 5,000 beasts
were slaughtered in the games. The successive tiers of seats, receding
from the arena to the summit, gave room for 90,000 spectators.
Gladiatorial contests continued until abolished by Honorius, A. D.
405.]