Post on 16-Dec-2015
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.
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
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 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
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