Transcript NERO GOES INSANE (Ancient Rome)

• Emperor Nero
• Ruled from 54-68 AD
• The roman empire lasts over 500 years
with 140 different emperors.
• Many emperors had absolute rule. Control
of the military, Government and people.
Early beginnings
• In the beginning, Nero was well liked.
• He was personable and had a certain way
with people
• Unfortunately for Nero (and Rome) his rule
would end as violently as it began
Agrippina
• Nero’s mother, Agrippina, was a very
dominating woman
• She was banned from Rome for many
years before she came back and killed
Emperor Claudius to put her son on the
throne.
• The only opposition, Claudius’ son
Britannicus, was poisoned soon after.
Colosseum
Gladiators! 50,000 Seated Spectators!
This is where the ancient
Romans gathered to watch
bloody combat between
professional fighters called
gladiators.
Colosseum
Bloody Battles! Wild Animals!
There were also battles
between men and wild animals.
Not everyone liked the bloody
sports, but many did.
Admission was FREE.
Christianity
In ancient Rome the religion was
that of the Roman Gods.
Many people were scared of
christianity and what it was
becoming.
Emperor Nero persecuted the
Christians because of their
differences.
Nero
Nero persecuted Christians
Nero ordered Christians
to be thrown to the lions
as part of the
entertainment in the
Colosseum.
Omens
There were several “Omens” that
Tacitus describes as a sign of a
necessity to remove Nero from
Power
• Unlucky birds settled on the capitol
building
• Many houses crumpled during large
earthquakes
• People were trampled under the feet of a
fleeing crowd
• But the worst was yet to come
The Great Fire
• During Nero’s rule there was a great fire
that lasted for six days. It decimated
Rome’s houses and people.
• Many hypothesize that Nero himself
started the fire, though that was never
proven.
• 10 of Rome’s 14 districts were destroyed
Fire cont.
• What threw the senate and the people off
after this was the fact that Nero, already
under suspicion by many of insanity, was
singing during the parts of the fire.
Unrest
• Many began questioning Nero
• There were several attempts to murder
him through access to his Imperial guards
by freed slaves.
• These attempts were thwarted and those
behind them were either killed or were
forced to kill themselves.
Nero
Nero was the
emperor of Rome.
He could send his
army out to kill
anyone, including
members of the
Senate and their
families.
Nero
As time went on, Nero’s
behavior became more and
more murderous.
After a revolt in a
Northern Roman
territory, the senate
declared Nero a
Public Enemy
Nero
The Senate ordered Nero’s
immediate execution.
When Nero heard about it,
he fled the area with his
remaining slaves and killed
himself instead.
Nero video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6
7Wp4K8N7mU