Transcript Rome: The Early Empire - Miami Beach Senior High School

Rome: The Early Empire
SS.A.2.4.4-5; SS.A.2.2.4;
SS.B.1.4.4
Age of Augustus

27 B.C.: Octavian calls for “restoration of the
Republic”, to satisfy the Senate
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Restored only republican form, not function
Senate given some power, but not much
Senate gives Octavian title of “Augustus” or “revered
one”
Augustus’ power comes from his control of the
army—Senate gives him title imperator
(commander in chief)
 Augustus reorganizes the army into legions
(5,000 Roman citizens); and stabilizes the
empire

Death of Caesar Augustus
A.D. 14: Caesar Octavian Augustus dies
 As emperor, Augustus creates a new
political system

 Emperors
were allowed to choose their
successor from their natural or adopted fam
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First four emperors after Augustus come
from his family: Tiberius, Caligula,
Claudius & Nero
Augustus’ Emperors
First four emperors take many of the
powers Augustus gave to the Senate
 More power=more corruption

 Nero,
after killing his own mother, loses the
respect of the army, and after his guards
leave him, he commits suicide
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After Nero’s death, Augustus’ family never
again rules Rome, replaced by “Good
Emperors”
Pax Romana
Five Good Emperors: Nerva, Trajan,
Hadrian, Antonius Pius & Marcus Aurelius
 Pax Romana: “Roman Peace” lasts for
almost 100 years

 Ruling
families respected, end of arbitrary
executions, peace in the empire
More power to emperors, less to Senate
 Building projects: harbors, bridges,
aqueducts

Growth of the Empire
New lands added: Dacia (Romania),
Mesopotamia, Sinai Peninsula—Trajan
 Hadrian: pulls troops from far away
provinces, strengthens forts b/w Rhine
and Danube rivers, builds defensive wall
across northern Britain to keep out Scots
 An empire so large proves dificult to
defend

Managing the Empire

Cities=important
 Facilitated
the spread of Roman law, language
and culture
Legions stationed at forts on frontiers
 Many people given rights of citizens
 Latin=official language in west
 Greek=official language in east
 Mixing of Greek and Roman culture=
Greco-Roman culture

Economy of the Early Empire

Pax Romana= prosperity
 Peace=
high level of trade= $$$$
Trade extended outside empire, even
included silk from China
 Farming remained chief economic driver
 Luxury good in high demand
 Big separation b/w rich and poor
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