Rome Its Rise and Fall

The 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 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-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-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 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 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 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 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 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 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