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During the social war of 91 through 88 BC the Romans learned a very hard lesson about offering their allies citizenship.
公元前91到公元前88年，罗马人得到了一个重要的教训，那就是要为他们的同盟国提供罗马公民身份。
It was a hard lesson they learned well.
这个重要教训他们吸取得很好。
The Roman Empire became remarkably benign to skin colour, native language, country of birth and all of that good stuff.
罗马帝国对于肤色，母语，出生地之类的区别都变得宽容起来。
The best and most promising provincials could be awarded Roman citizenship with all of its privileges and all of its responsibilities.
最棒最有前途的行省可以得到罗马公民身份，在负起所有相应责任的时候也享有所有特权。
Rome's first professor of rhetoric, Quintillian, was a native of Spain.
罗马第一位雄辩家昆体良出生在西班牙。
Plutarc the biographer was a native of Biocia in Greece.
传记作家普鲁塔克出生在希腊。
Arabs, Africans, Gauls, Asians, Britains and ancient Egyptians likewise became part of the Roman mix politically and culturally.
此外，阿拉伯人，非洲人，高卢人，亚洲人，英国人和古埃及人也都从政治和文化上融入了罗马。
This diversity went a great way to explaining the survival of the Roman Empire.
正是出于这样的多元化，罗马帝国才得以延续。
Romans like Americans later could be born that way or they could become that way.
和后来的美国人一样，罗马人可以接受别人的方式，也可以学习别人的方式。
Four: the state religion had little to offer
第四点 国教力不从心
The old roman religion had served its purpose back in the day, it was still capable of enhancing solidarity among Romans.
古罗马宗教在最开始的确能够满足需求，它到后来也还是能够增强罗马人的团结一致。
But there was a great spiritual chasm.
但是，这其中存在巨大的精神缺口，
Even at their most appealing the ancient Greco-Roman myths painted a depressing picture of the afterlife.
希腊罗马神话描绘了一幅令人沮丧的来生图景，
But there was no explanation of human existence and there was no reason to behave in a moral fashion.
对于人类存在没有作出解释，也没有解释人类为何要追求道德。
Romans across the empire would have to look elsewhere for spiritual satisfaction.
罗马人不得不从别处寻求精神的满足。
As a general rule the Roman government tolerated almost any religion
罗马政府几乎能够容忍任何宗教，
including mystery religion like those of Isis, Demeter, Mithras and even Attis.
包括一些神秘的宗教，比如伊西斯，德墨忒尔，太阳神，甚至是阿提斯。
Some religions however were considered to go against the Mos Majorum.
但是有一些宗教被认为亵渎了罗马的传统宗教。
Such as the mystery religion of Dionysus, persecuted by senatorial decree in 188 BC.
比如神秘的酒神宗教在公元前188年就受到了迫害。
Another religion perceived as going against the Mos Majorum was that of Christianity.
而另一个被认为违背了传统宗教的就是基督教。
The Roman Empire would develop a serious love hate relationship with this ground breaking new faith.
罗马帝国将会利用这个破天荒的新信仰发展出严肃的爱恨关系。
