Transcript Pax Romana & Emperors (Good, Bad, and Very, Very Bad!)

Pax Romana & Emperors (Good,
Bad, and Very, Very Bad!)
Dr. East
2/4/2014
Begins with death of Caesar
• Remember him?
• First Triumvirate (Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey)
• Then Caesar crosses Rubicon River to seize power in
Rome
• Lover was Cleopatra VII
• Declared “Dictator for Life”
• Murdered in Senate chambers (by Brutus amongst
others)
• Heir was Ocatvian, who later defeated Marc Anthony and
Cleopatra VIII for control of Rome… Ocatvian becomes
known as Augustus, Rome’s First Emperor (not longer
are their elected Consuls)
During the time the Pax Romana
• What does “Pax” mean?
• Augustus Caesar began his reign by
establishing a Roman Empire that had a
strong civil service, rule by law, a common
coinage, and secure travel and trade
throughout the empire.
• This lasted for about 200 years
Events and Accomplishments of
Pax Romana
1. Empire’s borders expanded
2. Uniform system of money (common coinage)
eased trade
3. Trade was eased thanks to safe, strong road
system
4. Social classes had stability, families could
prosper, more emphasis placed on strength of
family units than in Greek civ.
5. Civil Service System prospered, Civil Service
System run by “Equestrian Class”… what’s the
origin of this term?
6. Equestrians administered with uniform laws
Emperors Ran the Show
• Some were good, some were rather bad,
some had short reigns or shared power
• Now you guys describe your findings
about some of the most famous Emperors
of Pax Romana …