Already, as we have seen, through geographical discoveries and philosophical criticism, faith in the religion of the old days had been profoundly shaken.

It was, by this policy of Rome, brought to an end.
MONOTHEISM IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

The kings of all the conquered provinces had vanished; in their stead one emperor had come.

The gods also had disappeared.

Considering the connection which in all ages has existed between political and religious ideas, it was then not at all strange that polytheism should manifest a tendency to pass into monotheism.
Accordingly, divine honors were paid at first to the deceased and at length to the living emperor.
The facility with which gods were thus called into existence had a powerful moral effect.