Roman Empire

Roman Empire Pax Romana 27 BC – 180 AD

Reign of Augustus Heralded the Golden Age of Rome and the Pax Romana 1.

a. b. 2.

brought peace to the Empire economic prosperity returns

Political restructuring a. Augustus maintains legal appearance of authority b. Real power as control of army

1.

Augustan Society a. Restructured social classes to reflect wealth b. Social legislation strengthens religion and family values

taxes higher for single people of the upper classes laws limited expenditures for feasts and parties -

c. Morality laws carried penalties for adultery, divorce, etc.

Golden Age of Latin Literature

1.

A. received support from Augustus a. Latin Poetry begins to focus on more personal issues. - Horace – wrote about virtues of Pax Romana - Ovid – was exiled for The Art of Love

b.

Virgil writes epic story of Rome – Aenied

–Aenied is Roman version of Iliad Odyssey • Also wrote Georgics

Successors to Augustus – the Julio-Claudians 1. Increased the real power of the emperor 2. Imperial bureaucracy established by during reign of Claudius 3. Undermined authority of Senate

No constitutional provision for transfer of power Adoption is solution picked by Augustus

Ideally based upon competence Most chose blood relatives marginal success Tiberius, and The Five Good emperors + Caligula, Nero, and Commodus -

The Julio-Claudians 1. Tiberius –14-37- son-in-law of Augustus – competent administrator2. Caligula – 37-41-relative of Tiberius – tyrannical and erratic – 3. Claudius –41-54 Claudius good administrator- had family issues 4. Nero – 54-68 seen as horrible emperor but was not that bad in reality

Year of 4 Emperors 68AD Nero commits suicide – “What an artist the world loses in me.” 3 different people claim the throne Vespasian wins and founds Flavian dynasty

Flavian Dynasty Vespasian – 69 - 79 was seasoned commander Returned stability to Rome Began Coloseum – Flavian Ampitheater

Titus- 79-81 Domination – 81-96 Seen as Cruel Stopped using title of Princips- instead imperator Was assassinated

The Five Good Emperors Nerva – 96 – 98 Trajan – 98-117 Born in Spain- first provincial Rome reaches maximum size

Hadrian – 117-138 Built frontier fortifications Improved civil service

Antoninus Pius – 138-161 Marcus Aurelius-161-180 Seen as Philosopher-King- as per Plato

Rome under the 5 Roman military becomes romanizing influence Large numbers of non Romans become citizens Latin becomes primary language in Western Rome- Greek in East Latifundia are worked by coloni Literature enters Silver age Tacitus prominent historian Juvenal- satirical poet

Roman building spread all over empire Aqueducts all across Europe Extensive road network – some still in use Romans first to develop and use concrete in large quantities

City of Rome reaches 1 million Large number of urban poor City seen by some as parasitic Bread and Circuses reach pinnicle

The Terrible 3rd century Combination of civil war, barbarian invasions, and natural disasters contribute to chaos Germanic barbarians invade frontiers abandoned by legions fighting civil wars Epidemics and famine follow invasions

From 180 to 284 a large number of emperors come and go. Severus and Aurelian provide brief periods of stability

Life in the frontiers becomes perilous Economic activity declines Local authorities assume mantle of protector

Non Romans begin to fill the ranks of Legions Regular enlistees are given retirement benefits Federati are entire barbarian units enlisted for shorter periods – almost mercenaries

Late Roman Empire Diocletion 284 – 305 Sets up new adminstration system Divides empire into four sections Begins autocratic economic and social policies

Constantine 305 to 337 Took over after brief fight – Edict of Milan 313 -Recognized legality of Christianity Moved capitol of Empire to Byzantium renamed it Constantinople

Fall of Western Empire Roman adminstration limps along for most of the fourth century under the reforms of Constantine Increasing Barbarian pressure and economic decline further separate people of the west from the Empire Battle of Adrianople 378 is turning point Roman Emperor Valens defeated and killed by Gothic Armies

Huns from the east push Germanic tribes into Rome After Adrianople barbarians run unrestricted throughout western Empire People turn to local commanders and sometimes Barbarian kings for protection

Last western Emperor is killed in 475 by Odoacer