来自《耶鲁大学开放课程：古希腊历史简介第1集第1集》

with the general experience of mankind.

人类一般经验的大变革
The West of the Germanic tribes

弱小分裂的西方日耳曼部族
that had toppled the Roman empire was weak and it was divided.

推翻了罗马帝国
The barriers to unity presented by European geography

由于欧洲独特的地理条件
and very limited technology made it

和当时有限的科技水平
hard for a would-be conqueror to create a vast empire,

使未来的征伐者很难建立一个广袤的帝国
eliminating competitors and

清除异己和使他的意志
imposing his will over vast areas.

传播到广袤领地的每一个角落
These conditions permitted a development of institutions

这些恰恰是自由的形成和发展
and habits needed for freedom,

需要的的制度和特征
even as they also made Europe

尽管这也使欧洲
vulnerable to conquests and to extinction,

在外敌入侵时变的不堪一击