The Roman Empire. Augustus Caesar (AKA Octavian) Roman Republic too weak- Octavian became the one...

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

• 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:– 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

TrajanHadrian

Hadrian’s Wall (Britain)

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