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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，羅馬人得到了一個重要的教訓，那就是要為他們的同盟國提供羅馬公民身份。
It was a hard lesson they learned well.
這個重要教訓他們吸取得很好。
The Roman Empire became remarkably benign to skin colour, native language, country of birth and all of that good stuff.
羅馬帝國對于膚色，母語，出生地之類的區別都變得寬容起來。
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羅馬公民身份，在負起所有相應責任的時候也享有所有特權。
Rome's first professor of rhetoric, Quintillian, was a native of Spain.
羅馬第一位雄辯家昆體良出生在西班牙。
Plutarc the biographer was a native of Biocia in Greece.
傳記作家普魯塔克出生在希臘。
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，高盧人，亞洲人，英國人和古埃及人也都從政治和文化上融入了羅馬。
This diversity went a great way to explaining the survival of the Roman Empire.
正是出于這樣的多元化，羅馬帝國才得以延續。
Romans like Americans later could be born that way or they could become that way.
和后來的美國人一樣，羅馬人可以接受別人的方式，也可以學習別人的方式。
Four: the state religion had little to offer
第四點 國教力不從心
The old roman religion had served its purpose back in the day, it was still capable of enhancing solidarity among Romans.
古羅馬宗教在最開始的確能夠滿足需求，它到后來也還是能夠增強羅馬人的團結一致。
But there was a great spiritual chasm.
但是，這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.
希臘羅馬神話描繪了一幅令人沮喪的來生圖景，
But there was no explanation of human existence and there was no reason to behave in a moral fashion.
對于人類存在沒有作出解釋，也沒有解釋人類為何要追求道德。
Romans across the empire would have to look elsewhere for spiritual satisfaction.
羅馬人不得不從別處尋求精神的滿足。
As a general rule the Roman government tolerated almost any religion
羅馬政府幾乎能夠容忍任何宗教，
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，德墨忒爾，太陽神，甚至是阿提斯。
Some religions however were considered to go against the Mos Majorum.
但是有一些宗教被認為褻瀆了羅馬的傳統宗教。
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.
而另一個被認為違背了傳統宗教的就是基督教。
The Roman Empire would develop a serious love hate relationship with this ground breaking new faith.
羅馬帝國將會利用這個破天荒的新信仰發展出嚴肅的愛恨關系。
