Transcript The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire
Augustus Caesar (AKA Octavian)
• Roman Republic too weak- Octavian
became the one strong ruler
• Octavian was made consul, tribune, and
commander in chief for life!
• Ruled from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14
• Rebuilt the city of Rome
• Patron of the Arts
• Augustus’ reforms the empire
–Proconsuls can’t exploit
–Publican tax collectors were replaced
with government professionals
–Grain imported from N. Africa
–Roads were built
–Public buildings were constructed
Julio-Claudian Emperors
• Four Emperors who ruled from A.D. 14 to A.D. 68
• Each was a member of Augustus’ family
• Each showed promise, but later revealed great
faults
• 1. Tiberius
• 2. Caligula
• 3. Claudius
• 4. Nero
Tiberius
• Augustus’ adopted son
• Spoiled his reign by accusing many innocent
people of treason against him
• Accused Roman men and women of many silly
crimes that led to capital punishment and
confiscation of the criminal's estate.
• Tiberius left his role as Emperor
• May have been slowly poisoned by Caligula
Caligula
• Tiberius’ grand-nephew
• Started reign in A.D. 37
• Mentally disturbed and was killed by a palace guard
in A.D. 41
• Favored racehorse, Incitatus, was invited to dinner,
considered a guest of honor at dinner parties, and
referred to by Caligula as a being that talked to him
• Caligula is rumored to have made him a part of the
Senate
Claudius
• Caligula’s uncle
• Renowned scholar
• Difficulty in focusing on affairs of state
Roman Empire at Claudius’ death
Nero
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Claudius’ stepson
Became emperor in A.D.54
Cruel and probably insane
Bankrupt Rome to pay for horseracing and music
Suspected plots against him, so…killed his wife and
mother and had many senators executed
• A.D. 68 Senate sentenced him to death for treason
The Good Emperors
• 28 years following Nero’s death, Rome was
governed by ineffective emperors
• A.D. 96 introduction of the first “Good Emperor”Nerva
• Good Emperors included:
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Trajan
Hadrian
Antoninus Pius
Marcus Aurelius
Trajan, Hadrian, & Antoninus Pius
• Trajan
– Increased Empire to Greatest size
• Hadrian
– Strengthened Rome’s frontiers
– Built Hadrian’s Wall in Britain
• Antoninus Pius
– Maintained the Empire- Nothing bad happened to
destroy it
Hadrian’s Wall (Britain)
Trajan
Hadrian
Antoninus Pius
Marcus Aurelius
• Philosopher- Ruler
• Brought Rome to its height in Economic
Prosperity- the Economy was the best
• Lived by Stoic philosophy- “Every moment think
steadily as a Roman and a human being how to do
what you have in hand with perfect and simple
dignity”
Roman Imperial Government
• Emperor chose professional governors
• Left some local kings in charge under his command
(Judea)
• Ordered new roads built so that he could keep in
touch with all of empire
• Pontifex Maximus- Emperor acted as Chief priest
of Rome (Head of State & Religion)
Roman Law
• By A.D. 200’s- almost all free males in empire had
been made full citizens of Rome
• Stressed authority of state over the individual
• Gave people definite legal rights- “Innocent until
proven guilty”
• Roman system of law formed basis of legal system of
Western nations (Including the United States!!)
Roman Imperial Army
• Maintained professional army
• Augustus reduced number of legions and recruited
people from conquered provinces
• Emperor could count on having 300,000 troops- Not
enough to protect empire’s border of 4,000 miles
• A.D. 160- invasions of people outside empire a
serious problem
Pax Romana
• “Roman Peace”
• Lasted for 200 years
• While majority of Rome was poor- their lives
became better
• Rich- Held Public Office, owned large farms, ran
factories
• Poor- Most of Rome, sometimes could make their
lives better, bathed in public areas
• Expansion and solidification of Roman Empire,
particularly in the Near East
Public Amusements
• Poor did not rebel against government b/c offered
them free bread and free entertainment
• A.D. 160- celebrate 130 holidays a year
• Chariot races in Circus Maximus
• Gladiator fights in the Colosseum
Architecture, Engineering, & Science
• Circus Maximus
• Colosseum
• Pantheon- built by Hadrian
– Temple for all deities
– Created new building material- cement
• Appian Way
– Connected Rome and southeastern Italy
– 50,000 miles of road network
• Aqueducts
– Artificial channels to carry water