1. Augustus and the Early Empire

2. Assassination of J. Caesar
Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars (excerpt)

3. Who will rule after Julius Caesar?
Marc Antony
A brilliant soldier; J. Caesar’s top lieutenant; popular w/ Roman populace.
Octavian
Grandnephew & adopted son of J. Caesar
Strengths = determination, Caesar’s name & $$, timing, shrewdness
Weaknesses =Unhealthy, inexperienced, young

4. How will Augustus avoid Caesar’s fate?
He is clearly the dominant figure in Rome by 31 BC; and he knows Rome is close to more civil war.
Yet he does not want to be “king” or “dictator”
Solution:
Renovate > Innovate
Find traditional ways to cloak his power

5. Octavian’s solution: the Principate
Imperator: supreme military commander
Princeps: First citizen
Pater patriae: “Father of the fatherland”
Pontifex maximus: chief priest
Tribune-for-life
Control of provincial appointments
Control of state finances
Praetorian Guard
Adoption of the name Augustus

6. What’s in a statue? Cuirass = military authority
Ad locutio gesture = rhetorical authority
Cupid = familial authority (Aeneas)
Pose = pseudo-Greek

7. What role is Augustus assuming in each pose?

8. How did Augustus control Rome?
Appearance of deferring to the Senate
Colonies of foreign soldiers and Romanization of provinces
Traditional Roman family values/virtues (e.g., Julia)
Religion
Deification, “Rome and Augustus”
Sponsored poets, playwrights
Virgil, Horace (but not Ovid)
“Bread and Circuses” (public amusement)
Gladiators, horse races, public baths

9. Primary Sources about Augustus
Augustus himself
Suetonius
Tacitus
DioCassius
Archaelogical artifacts
Law codes
Art/Architecture

10. Roman Empire under Augustus
Noble, p. 176

11. The problem of the succession
The problems:
the princeps was not a specific office, but a combination of prestige, military authority, religious aura.
Augustus outlives his adopted son Marcellus, his son-in-law Agrippa, his grandsons Lucius and Gaius, leaving him with only his stepson Tiberius.
Romans are still opposed to hereditary monarchy.
Solution: adopt another man as son….

12. Julio-Claudian Dynasty (14-68 AD)
14-37 CE: Tiberius (murdered by)
37-41: Caligula (murdered)
41-54: Claudius (murdered by the mother of)
54-68: Nero (murdered)

13. Pax Romana/Roman Peace (1st & 2nd c. AD)
Five Good Emperors (96-180)
Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius
Silver and Golden Ages of literature
Economic growth
Sturdy border defense and peace
Mass citizenship
Romanization
Language, army service, architecture, names

14. Roman Culture Sport Literature/History Religion
Gladiators, chariot racing
Literature/History
Virgil, Horace, Tacitus, Livy
Religion
Paganism, Imperial Religion & Deification of Emperors, Christianity, Mystery Religions
To what extent do these reflect Roman values already studied?
What do you already know about these, from textbook or other sources?

15. Gladiators in Rome What do you already know?

16. Types of Gladiators
Retiarius, & Lanista
Secutor

17. Types of Gladiators
Bestiarus (low relief)
Thracian (mosaic)

18. History & Purpose of Gladiatorial Games
Originated as funeral games (264 BC) to honor ancestors
J. Caesar offered 320 pairs in silver armor, in 65 BC
Held in amphitheatres, arenas, and even the Circus Maximus to allow for crowds
“gladius” = sword
Gladiators = mix of criminals, POWs, slaves, mercenaries. Infamis.
Oaths:
“uri, vinciri, verberari, ferroque necari (I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword)
Ave Caesar! Mortuturi te salutamus! (Hail, Caesar! We who are about to die salute you!)

19. Gladiators today