1 / 8

Rome: The Early Empire

Rome: The Early Empire. SS.A.2.4.4-5; SS.A.2.2.4; SS.B.1.4.4. Age of Augustus. 27 B.C.: Octavian calls for “restoration of the Republic”, to satisfy the Senate Restored only republican form, not function Senate given some power, but not much

elaine
Download Presentation

Rome: The Early Empire

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Rome: The Early Empire SS.A.2.4.4-5; SS.A.2.2.4; SS.B.1.4.4

  2. Age of Augustus • 27 B.C.: Octavian calls for “restoration of the Republic”, to satisfy the Senate • Restored only republican form, not function • Senate given some power, but not much • Senate gives Octavian title of “Augustus” or “revered one” • Augustus’ power comes from his control of the army—Senate gives him title imperator (commander in chief) • Augustus reorganizes the army into legions (5,000 Roman citizens); and stabilizes the empire

  3. Death of Caesar Augustus • A.D. 14: Caesar Octavian Augustus dies • As emperor, Augustus creates a new political system • Emperors were allowed to choose their successor from their natural or adopted fam • First four emperors after Augustus come from his family: Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius & Nero

  4. Augustus’ Emperors • First four emperors take many of the powers Augustus gave to the Senate • More power=more corruption • Nero, after killing his own mother, loses the respect of the army, and after his guards leave him, he commits suicide • After Nero’s death, Augustus’ family never again rules Rome, replaced by “Good Emperors”

  5. Pax Romana • Five Good Emperors: Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius & Marcus Aurelius • Pax Romana: “Roman Peace” lasts for almost 100 years • Ruling families respected, end of arbitrary executions, peace in the empire • More power to emperors, less to Senate • Building projects: harbors, bridges, aqueducts

  6. Growth of the Empire • New lands added: Dacia (Romania), Mesopotamia, Sinai Peninsula—Trajan • Hadrian: pulls troops from far away provinces, strengthens forts b/w Rhine and Danube rivers, builds defensive wall across northern Britain to keep out Scots • An empire so large proves dificult to defend

  7. Managing the Empire • Cities=important • Facilitated the spread of Roman law, language and culture • Legions stationed at forts on frontiers • Many people given rights of citizens • Latin=official language in west • Greek=official language in east • Mixing of Greek and Roman culture= Greco-Roman culture

  8. Economy of the Early Empire • Pax Romana= prosperity • Peace= high level of trade= $$$$ • Trade extended outside empire, even included silk from China • Farming remained chief economic driver • Luxury good in high demand • Big separation b/w rich and poor

More Related