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Pax Romana. 27 BC – 180 AD. Julius Caesar Takes Power. 60 B.C. – Named Consul ALLIANCE: The Triumvirate A Rule of 3 Controls Rome w/Pompey & Crassus. The Triumvirate. Julius Caesar. Crassus. Pompey. Caesar’s Absolute Power. Crassus dies in 53 BCE
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Pax Romana 27 BC – 180 AD
Julius Caesar Takes Power • 60 B.C. – Named Consul • ALLIANCE: • The Triumvirate • A Rule of 3 • Controls Rome w/Pompey & Crassus
The Triumvirate Julius Caesar Crassus Pompey
Caesar’s Absolute Power • Crassus dies in 53 BCE • Pompey convinces Senate to ask Caesar to relinquish command of troops. • “Crossing the Rubicon” • Civil War in Rome: Caesar vs. Pompey • Caesar is Victorious
Caesar The Ruler • Caesar elected Dictator in 49 BCE (10 yr. term) • Massive reform of tax, land, and legal code. • Extended citizenship. • Re-organized town gov’t. • Public works program = jobs
Death of Caesar • In 44 BCE named dictator for life. • Senate worried about new powers and the end of Senatorial rule. • Killed Caesar
Civil War….again • Plunged the countryside into war over power. • Cassius and Brutus sought power • Were defeated by a triumvirate of Lepidus, Mark Anthony (two of Caesars’ trusted generals) and Octavian, his adopted son.
Rise of Octavian • Caesar’s nephew • Forms the Second Triumvirate with Marc Antony and Lepidus
The Second Triumvirate Marc Antony Lepidus Octavian
TROUBLE IN ROME: Marc Antony meets Cleopatra Octavian accuses them of plotting to overthrow Rome
Octavian vs. Antony • Civil War: Octavian is Victorious! At Battle of Actium • Renamed: EMPERORAUGUSTUS!!! • The Republic is dead!!! • Rome is now an Empire!!!
The Rule of Octavian • Created a façade of ruling with the Senate and patricians • Senate and Magistrates held some powers and advised him. • After purging Senate of opposition, gave power back, only to have Senate ask for him to stay. • Becomes principate (first citizen) and Augustus (Senate conferred) • Creates divine role for leader.
“The First Citizen” • Restored classical citizen ruler ideal • Reformed military • Standing professional army • Well paid for 25 yr contracts • Building Projects in Rome • Reformed forced extortion of territories • Reformed tax code to be equal to citizens • Bureaucracy becomes a group of capable leaders.
Julio-Claudian Dynasty • 14 AD – 68 AD • Relatives of Octavian or his third wife Livia • Tiberius – poor judgment, fumbled from 14-37 ACE, killed rivals and Germanicus. Set up for… • Caligula – went mad, paraded as God-King, emptied treasuries, killed by advisors • Claudius – good ruler (reform military, building projects, conquered Brits), bad taste in women, • Nero – mother Agrippa sought power over him, but instead he became tyrannical. Killed ppl at random, may have been a pedophile. Great Fire. Killed self in the middle of a revolt against him.
Flavian Dynasty • Three Emperors rule in a period of one year, each died under suspicious circumstances or outright murder. • Elected Vespasian, whose ten year reign was strong. • Built Coliseum • Put down revolts in Judea and Gaul • destroyed Second Jewish temple during revolt in 70 AD • Raised taxes and reclaimed land – refilled Rome’s coffers. • Insisted children rule after him, not chosen “son”, caused huge problems. • Flavians ended with his son Domitian
Nerva makes key decision • Even though the next Emperor’s reign was short, Nerva makes the decision to appoint the next ruler before death AND base it upon merit. • He chooses Trajan. • It is with Nerva that we get the time of the “Five Good Emperors” lasting from 96 ACE to 180 ACE.
Trajan • Conquered Dacia (Bulgaria) and Partha (Persia) and gained great wealth. • Eased tax burdens on people. • Fought poverty with grain handouts • Established program to help poor children, welfare like. • Began the process of Romanization
Hadrian • Pulled back on some of Trajans conquests, but solidified boundaries in Brittany (Hadrians Wall) • Put down second Jewish revolt and scattered Jews out of lands, renaming it Syria Palestine. • Sought to make Athens the cultural capital of the Empire.
Antoninius Pius • Peaceful time in empire • Limited ability of master to torute slaves • Innocence until proven guilty • Efficient and just ruler who stayed in Italy almost whole time.
Marcus Aurelius • Stoic Philosopher • Wrote “Meditations” • Fought constantly in Germany and Parthia • Constantly reassuring borders. • Herodes and Fronto become teachers of young man. • Devalued Roman Currency • Pandemic in 165 AD – ruined city and economy • Passed power to his son Commodus – therefore the end of the great period.
Roman Culture • Architecture • Aqueducts – developed to bring water into cities. Work done by slaves. • Roads Developed – Appian Way • Triumphal Arches – Titus and Trajan to commemorate victories • Forums – built in each major city as the center of culture and society. (primarily basilicas) • Architecture • Temples – set to different gods –more of a meeting place than a worship house • Coliseum • Construction started in 72 AD – finished in 80 AD • 50,000 spectators • Mock sea battles • Circus Maximus • Built over time by Romans starting in 400 BC. • Could seat 120,000 ppl
Roman Contributions ENGINEERING • “All ROADS lead to ROME” • Built Roads throughout Empire • Unity, Strength, Trade
Roman Contributions ENGINEERING • Aqueducts • Plumbing system that carried water to cities
Literature • Romans focused on history and poetry more than dramatics and fictional literature • Cato (160 BC) – first history of Roman states • Gaius Lucilius – poetry “30 Satires” • Cicero – described Roman life through philosophy and oratories • Virgil – The Aeneid – epic poem that describes history of Rome • Tacitus – great historian of Rome – Julius Caesar to Domitian
Roman Contributions • LATIN • Root of Modern Language • All did not speak Latin, but it developed into other languages LANGUAGE
Philosophy • Dominated by Epicureanism and Skepticism early on • Cicero • Seneca • Later on – St. Augustine with Christianity • Science • Most advances surrounding architectural developments (example: concrete developed) • Mining and metellurgy • Galen contributed to treating symptoms
Law • 12 Tables • Set up in center of Roma • Set up a class of professional jurists and judges • Established jus naturale (natural laws) • Habaes Corpus, checks and balances, separation of powers, • Stare Decisis
Bread and Circuses • Events set up during the later Roman period in order to maintain control on the large urban populations being created by expansion of latfundia. • Poor Romans were entertained and gained bread rations to go.