The Roman Empire

• From Octavian to Augustus, 27 bce– Assassination of Caesar’s son– Octavian tries to preserve illusion of

Republic• Compromise with Senate

– Relinquishes power back to the people– Senate gives Octavian consular control of army and

outlying provinces, allows him to establish the Praetorian Guard (private army in Rome)

• Retains the title Imperator (given annually to a general) but does not call himself “emperor” (instead, “First Citizen”)

– Gives himself a new name: Augustus

A Sampling of Emperors

• Augustus, 27 bce - 14 ce• Tiberius, 14-37 ce• Caligula, 37-41 ce

“Ancient accounts are divided about Caligula’s behavior; some say that he was vicious from the beginning, but concealed it long enough to strengthen his power… while others claim that he suffered through a serious illness early in his reign and then emerged with a new personality. All of the accounts list shocking crimes: he murdered his cousin, his grandmother, and his father-in-law; he slept with all three of his sisters, as well as male and female prostitutes and other men’s wives; he forced bodyguards to play war with him, and killed them when they hesitated to strike him; he raised taxes and then spent money wildly. Rumor said that he intended to make his horse a consul, and certainly he had no respect for the office. In 39, he fired both of the consuls and dissolved the Senate by force.” (Susan Wise Bauer, History of the Ancient World, p. 721)

A Sampling of Emperors• Claudius, r. 41-54 ce

– Established Roman rule in southern Britain• Nero, r. 54-68 ce

– Roman fire, persecution of Christians• Flavian emperors, r. 69-96 ce

– Suppressed Jewish revolt, destroyed Jerusalem• Trajan, r. 98-117 ce

– Expanded the Empire to greatest size• Hadrian, r. 117-138 ce

– Defensive walls around northern Britain and central Europe• Antoninus Pius, r. 138-160 ce

– Most peaceful imperial reign• Marcus Aurelius, r. 161-180 ce

– Stoic philosopher concerned for the people; wars in Germania and Asia

Pax Romana, 27 bce – 180 ce• Economic prosperity– Uniform currency helps expand trade– Guarded roads keep merchants safe

• Social stability– Emphasis on the family– “Bread and circuses” distract masses w/food,

festivals

• Political success– Successful imperialism– Civil service jobs open the government to the

citizenry– Uniform rule of law