Transcript The Early Empire

The Early Empire
Chapter 9-4
Augustus
• Pax Romana – a long era of peace in
Rome which started with emperor
Augustus (Octavian)
Augustus
• Built army of about 150,000
• Created the Praetorian Guard, 9,000 men
who guarded the emperor
• Added northern Europe to the empire
• Rebuilt Rome in marble (buildings,
statues, palaces, fountains, etc.)
• Reformed the tax system
• Reformed the legal system
Trevi Fountain
Tower of Hercules
In Spain
Augustus
• The next rulers
– Tiberius – good emperor
– Caligula – mentally ill, cruel
– Claudius – good emperor
– Nero - cruel
The Remorse of Nero after the
Murder of his Mother
Waterhouse, 1878
Caligula
• Caligula Depositing the Ashes of his
Mother and Brother in the Tomb of his
Ancestors, by Eustache Le Sueur, 1647
Unity and Prosperity
• Vespasian – ruled a few years after Nero
– Restored peace and order
– Calmed Jewish rebellion in Palestine
– Constructed the amphitheater the Colosseum
Unity and Prosperity
• A few more good emperors
– Nerva
– Trajan
– Hadrian
– Antonius Pius
– Marcus Aurelius
• Agriculture and trade flourished
Unity and Prosperity
• The five good emperors
– Programs to help ordinary people
– Gave money to poor for education
– Made law easier to understand
– Passed laws to help orphans
– Supported public building projects
– Built roads, harbors, aqueducts, etc.
– Expanded empire to its largest size (Trajan)
Apartment building
Unity and Prosperity
• Aqueduct – human made channel for
carrying water long distances
Aqueduct in France
c. 19 B.C.
Unity and Prosperity
• Rhine River and Danube River – the
eastern boundaries of the empire
Unity and Prosperity
• Differences – languages, customs
• Unified – Roman law, Roman rule, and a
shared identity
Unity and Prosperity
• Economy – farming
– Grapes
– Olives
– Wine
– Olive oil
Italian Vineyard
Unity and Prosperity
• Economy – industry
– Pottery
– Weavings
– Jewelry
– Glass
– Bronze
– Brass
Unity and Prosperity
• Economy – trade
– Puteoli and Ostia – two of the largest port
cities
– They imported luxuries
Puteoli
Unity and Prosperity
• Roads
– 50,000 miles of roads
Roman Milestone
Roman Road in Spain
Map of Roman Roads
Unity and Prosperity
• Money
– The empire used a common currency (type of
money)
Unity and Prosperity
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Rich people lived in luxury
Middle class thrived
Many city dwellers and farmers very poor
Many slaves