The Roman Empire

HIS 101

The Second Triumvirate

Second Triumvirate: Octavian, Marcus Lepidus and Marc Antony (43 B.C.)

Killed over 2,000 opponents (including Cicero) & defeated assassins at Philippi

Marcus Lepidus shunted aside as Pontifex Maximus; Octavian & Antony divided empireAntony fell in love with Queen Cleopatra of EgyptAfter defeat at Battle of Actium (31 B.C.), Marc Antony & Cleopatra committed suicideOctavian proclaimed restoration of the republic, but Senate named him Caesar Augustus in 27 B.C.

Copyright 2000, Wadsworth/Thomson Learning

Caesar Augustus(31 B.C. – 14 A.D.)

Senate became lawmaking body, but under Octavian’s control

Served as Consul until 23 B.C., then given maius imperium as chief proconsul & unofficial tribuneHe chose title of Princeps (first among equals)Successors became known as Imperators (Emperors)Named Pontifex Maximus in 12 B.C. & accepted worship as a god

Caesar Augustus (cont.)

Reorganized the Roman Legions28 Legions with 5,400 men each

150,000 men; drawn only from citizenryServed 20 years

Noncitizens used as Auxiliaries – 130,000 menPraetorian Guard – 9,000 elite troops that personally served & protected Augustus

Tried to conquer Germania, but Varus’ army defeated at Teutoburg Forest

Augustan Society

Social StratificationSenators owned property worth 1 million sesterces

Equestrians owned property worth 400,000 sesterces

Lower Class had little political power

Augustus introduced moral legislation to end decadence & increase birth rate

Banished daughter Julia & Ovid for affair

Adopted Tiberius as son & successor

Julio-Claudian DynastyTiberius (14-37) tried to involve Senate more at first, but gradually consolidated powerGrandnephew Caligula (37-41) was insane

Committed incest with sisters Drusilla & AgrippinaAssassinated by Praetorian Guard, setting precedent

Claudius (41-54) was able administratorest. imperial bureaucracy, further undermining Senate’s powerAgrippina killed him & his heir to make her son ruler

Nero (54-68) began well under influence of Seneca, but became self-indulgent & corrupt

Believed he was a great actor & singerBlamed Great Fire (64 A.D.) on Christians, launching persecution that killed Peter & PaulRevolt by Spanish Gov. Galba prompted him to commit suicide

Civil War – Year of the Four Emperors (69)

Flavian DynastyVespasian (69-79) formally took title of Imperator

Put down Jewish revolt (66 - 70 A.D.)

Succeeded by sons Titus (79-81) & Domitian (81-96)

The Colosseum

The Five “Good” EmperorsNerva (96-98) introduced alimenta - assistance to poor parents in raising & educating childrenTrajan (98-117) was 1st emperor born outside Italy

conquered Dacia, Mesopotamia & the Sinai PeninsulaBuilt Forum in Rome to celebrate his victories

Hadrian (117-138) retrenched built wall across northern BritainBuilt Pantheon in RomePut down Bar Kochba revolt in 133 & dispersed remaining Jews

Antonius Pius (138-161) – nicest of the lotMarcus Aurelius (161-180) – Stoic who wrote Meditations

Copyright 2000, Wadsworth/Thomson Learning

Imperial Rome

Overcrowded and Noisy City of 1 million peoplePoor lived in Insulae (apartment blocks)

Made of concrete & woodDanger of fire and building collapse

Public Buildings Temples, Forums, Markets, Baths, Theaters, Govt. Buildings and Amphitheaters

Food & entertainment for the poor kept them from rioting (Bread and Circuses)

Chariot races at the Circus MaximusGladiator contests at the Colosseum

Roman Amphitheater with Animal Pit in the Middle, Syracuse

Gladiator Mosaic, 4th century

Imperial Rome, 2nd Century A.D.

Roman Culture

Golden Age:Virgil (70-19 B.C.) – AeneidHorace (65-8 B.C.) – SatiresOvid (43 B.C. – 18 A.D.) – MetamorphosesLivy (59 B.C. – 17 A.D.) – History of Rome

Silver Age:Tacitus (56-120 A.D.) – Annals, HistoriesJuvenal (55-128 A.D.) - Satires

Copyright 2000, Wadsworth/Thomson Learning

The Terrible Third Century

Commodus (180-192) = cruel son of Marcus Aurelius; assassinated

Septimius Severus (193-211) – North African general who used army to seize power

Decius (249-251) blamed problems on Christians for failing to honor gods

Valerian (253-260) was captured by Sassanid Persians & died in captivity

Aurelian (270-275) restored boundaries after invasions of Goths, Franks & Alemanni

The Empire Strikes Back

Diocletian (284-305) restructured empire into tetrarchy

4 prefectures, divided into 4 diocesesEach prefecture ruled by an Augustus, with a lieutenant called a Caesar

Diocletian had ultimate authorityDiocletian ruled eastern half of empire; Maximian ruled western halfDiocletian est. wage & price controls to regulate economy

Copyright 2000, Wadsworth/Thomson Learning

Constantine (306-337)Had vision of cross before Battle of Milvian Bridge (312)

Issued Edict of Milan (313) – officially tolerating Christianity

Created new capital at Constantinople

Greatly expanded army & civil service