Rome Under Nero 54 – 68 AD

In his first few years of rule he was considered a good and generous ruler. He… Eliminated capital punishment Lowered taxes Granted slaves certain freedoms they had never before had

The Great Fire of Rome Nero was rumored to have played his lyre while Rome burned He built new palace on majority of burnt land Blamed the Christians for the fire and executed them in brutal ways Burnt 10 of the 14 regions of Rome.

Religion About a generation after the death of Christ, Christianity has reached Rome as sort of an obscure offshoot of Judaism. Christianity was popular amongst the poor and destitute. Nero blamed the Great Fire of Rome on Christians to deflect the accusations off of himself. Infamous for brutally torturing Christians. Majority of Rome still worshipped the Roman gods (Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, etc. Those people.) There was also a Jewish population

Social Organization Status of Women… Expected to have pielas, A combination of duty, devotion, and loyalty to their husbands and the nation. Exercised political power Almost equal to men (Couldn’t buy a slave without husbands approval. Couldn’t be in office.) Slavery… Was pretty generous with freedoms slaves could have considering the time period.

Arts and Entertainment Emphasized the arts and athletics He liked to sing and dance and played multiple instruments. Circuses, theatre competitions, poetry competitions. Public athletic games every 5 years in Rome Tons of money was spend on artistic pursuits suited for his own enjoyment. Christians were rubbed in pitch, placed on pikes and burned as light for his parties.

Literature Lucian- Pharasalia (10 books on the Caesarian civil war) Seneca- Roman Tragedies. (Roman- Troades, Medea, Phaedra. Greek- Odepius, Phoenissae) Pliny the Elder- Natualis Historia Taticus the Historian- Recorded the Great Fire of Rome

Economics Denarius = currency/coin Economic downfall caused Nero to have to devalue the denarius by decreasing the silver content He made economic decisions based on what would please the people. attempted to promote free trade By final years of Nero’s rule, Roman Empire under great economic strain because of his decisions. Tons of money was spent on artistic pursuits

Political In the beginning of his reign, Nero was known for his political generosity. Nero criticized with being obsessed with personal popularity. He tended to make rulings that pleased the lower class. Shared power between Senate and Nero Seneca the philosopher, Perfect Praetorian Guard Burrus, and Agrippina Pisonian Conspiracy Vacationed to Greece Governor Galba

Downfall… About halfway through Nero’s reign everything began to go downhill Lavish self-indulgence and tyranny Spend crazy amounts of money on artistic pursuits Built super expensive and unnecessary palace Assassination (Pisonian Conspiracy -65) was planned but discovered by Nero and assassins were executed Everyone turned against Nero and he panicked, fled, and killed himself.

Last Words – “What an artist the world loses in me” His empire ended when he was declared by the Senate a “public enemy” and he fled and committed suicide in June of 68. Disputes over his succession led to civil wars in Rome. Last Words – “What an artist the world loses in me”

Sources Ancient Rome and Religion - History Learning Site. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ancient-rome/ancient-rome-and-religion Armstrong Economics. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.armstrongeconomics.com/research/monetary-history-of-the-world/roman-empire/chronology_-by_- emperor/imperial-rome-julio-claudian-age/nero-54-68-ad Nero. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/nero Nero. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/nero.shtml Nero Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.biography.com/people/nero- 9421713#political-demise-and-death