Rome

Its Rise and Fall

The Birth of an EmpireThe Birth of an Empire

• The First Emperor– With the defeat of Antony, Octavian ruled

Rome• Everyone feared Octavian• Everyone tired of fighting

– Octavian was given the name Augustus, which means “Revered One.”

– He was also given the title of imperator– He called himself the “First Citizen,” and

not dictator

• The First Emperor– With the defeat of Antony, Octavian ruled

Rome• Everyone feared Octavian• Everyone tired of fighting

– Octavian was given the name Augustus, which means “Revered One.”

– He was also given the title of imperator– He called himself the “First Citizen,” and

not dictator

Birth of an EmpireBirth of an Empire

• Augustus’ reforms– Gave power to the senate– Emperor had control of the Army– Emperor could pick his successor– Created the Praetorian Guard

• 9,000 men who’s job it was to protect the emperor

– Stabilized the Frontier– Conquered a lot of new land– The emperor was called Caesar

• Augustus’ reforms– Gave power to the senate– Emperor had control of the Army– Emperor could pick his successor– Created the Praetorian Guard

• 9,000 men who’s job it was to protect the emperor

– Stabilized the Frontier– Conquered a lot of new land– The emperor was called Caesar

Julio-Claudians

• The direct descendants of Julius and Augustus Caesar– Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero– Tiberius

• Lazy and did very little work. He delegated to his assistances

• He stayed in power b/c Rome was not in a civil war, and Rome was getting richer

• The direct descendants of Julius and Augustus Caesar– Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero– Tiberius

• Lazy and did very little work. He delegated to his assistances

• He stayed in power b/c Rome was not in a civil war, and Rome was getting richer

Julio-ClaudiansJulio-Claudians

– Caligula• Good ruler at first, but suffered from mental

illness• Tried to make his horse a senator• Wanted to marry his sister• Killed by his own guards b/c he was so crazy

– Claudius• Caligula’s Uncle• He was a good ruler• He took over England and made it a province• He was killed by his wife, Agrippina, so she

could rule through her son

– Caligula• Good ruler at first, but suffered from mental

illness• Tried to make his horse a senator• Wanted to marry his sister• Killed by his own guards b/c he was so crazy

– Claudius• Caligula’s Uncle• He was a good ruler• He took over England and made it a province• He was killed by his wife, Agrippina, so she

could rule through her son

Julio-ClaudiansJulio-Claudians

– Nero• His mother killed his father so she could rule

through him• He was 16 when he became emperor• In his mid-20’s he became tired of his mother

controlling him, so he had her killed• Most known for killing the Christians b/c of the

Great Fire• Killed Peter and Paul of the Bible• His army revolted against him, so he

committed suicide by cutting his own throat• He was the last of the Julio-Claudians

– Nero• His mother killed his father so she could rule

through him• He was 16 when he became emperor• In his mid-20’s he became tired of his mother

controlling him, so he had her killed• Most known for killing the Christians b/c of the

Great Fire• Killed Peter and Paul of the Bible• His army revolted against him, so he

committed suicide by cutting his own throat• He was the last of the Julio-Claudians

The Five Good EmperorsThe Five Good Emperors

• The year after Nero died, Rome had Four different emperor

• For the next 20 years there was a lot more fighting and war over who controlled Rome

• Five emperors that ruled during the Pax Romana, or “Roman Peace,” were known as the Five Good Emperors– Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, and

Marcus Aurelius

• The year after Nero died, Rome had Four different emperor

• For the next 20 years there was a lot more fighting and war over who controlled Rome

• Five emperors that ruled during the Pax Romana, or “Roman Peace,” were known as the Five Good Emperors– Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, and

Marcus Aurelius

The Five Good EmperorsThe Five Good Emperors

– Nerva• Was chosen to rule by the Senators• He only ruled for two years• Created the new way of choosing the

next emperor–Pick whomever you thought would do

the best job, then adopt them as son• Created land reform that favored the

poor

– Nerva• Was chosen to rule by the Senators• He only ruled for two years• Created the new way of choosing the

next emperor–Pick whomever you thought would do

the best job, then adopt them as son• Created land reform that favored the

poor

The Five Good EmperorsThe Five Good Emperors

– Trajan• Handpicked by Nerva to rule Rome• Conquered a lot of new land for Rome

–Dacia (Romania) a lot of Gold Mines–Western Asia up to Babylon–Expanded Rome to its greatest size

• Made Christianity legal in Rome

– Trajan• Handpicked by Nerva to rule Rome• Conquered a lot of new land for Rome

–Dacia (Romania) a lot of Gold Mines–Western Asia up to Babylon–Expanded Rome to its greatest size

• Made Christianity legal in Rome

The Five Good EmperorsThe Five Good Emperors

– Hadrian• Nephew of Trajan and picked to be the next

ruler• Not very popular

–Gave back most of the land that Trajan had taken b/c he felt that Rome could not control it and keep it

• Built a giant wall to protect Roman territory in Britain. It is called Hadrian’s Wall

• Codified the Roman Law Code

– Hadrian• Nephew of Trajan and picked to be the next

ruler• Not very popular

–Gave back most of the land that Trajan had taken b/c he felt that Rome could not control it and keep it

• Built a giant wall to protect Roman territory in Britain. It is called Hadrian’s Wall

• Codified the Roman Law Code

The Five Good EmperorsThe Five Good Emperors

– Antonius Pius• Very religious man• Looked out for the poor and the orphans• Did not fight any wars

– Antonius Pius• Very religious man• Looked out for the poor and the orphans• Did not fight any wars

The Five Good EmperorsThe Five Good Emperors– Marcus Aurelius

• Last of the Five Good Emperors• Did not have peaceful reign• Delegated power so that no one would overthrow

him• The Parthians (those in the eastern portion of Rome)

attacked the Romans to overthrow them• Rome won the war, but the army caught a disease

from the Parthians (smallpox??)• Plague broke out all over the Empire. Tens of

thousands died all over Rome.• Germanic people to the North thought they would

take advantage of Rome during this weak time.• The rest of Aurelius’ reign was fighting the Germanic

people• Rome eventually won

– Marcus Aurelius• Last of the Five Good Emperors• Did not have peaceful reign• Delegated power so that no one would overthrow

him• The Parthians (those in the eastern portion of Rome)

attacked the Romans to overthrow them• Rome won the war, but the army caught a disease

from the Parthians (smallpox??)• Plague broke out all over the Empire. Tens of

thousands died all over Rome.• Germanic people to the North thought they would

take advantage of Rome during this weak time.• The rest of Aurelius’ reign was fighting the Germanic

people• Rome eventually won