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The Good, the Bad and the Just Plain Strange. Rome’s Best and Worst Emperors. Agenda. Joke of the day The Bads The Goods Read. Joke of the Day. Characteristics of a Good Leader. Should leaders always be judged on the results they achieve?. After Agustus Caesar died….
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The Good, the Bad and the Just Plain Strange Rome’s Best and Worst Emperors
Agenda • Joke of the day • The Bads • The Goods • Read
Characteristics of a Good Leader • Should leaders always be judged on the results they achieve?
After Agustus Caesar died… • The Julian-Claudians took the throne, they were some of the worst rulers • Tiberius • Caligula • Nero
Tiberius 14-37 CEStepson of Octavian • Married step-sister (Octavian’s daughter) • Exiled himself • Possibly murdered nephew • Killed most of family • Incest
Caligula (Great Nephew of Tiberius; adopted grandson) • 37-41 CE • Mentally disturbed • Many wives • Incest with sisters • Heavy taxation • Brothel • Assassinated-so were his wife and daughter • Succeeded by Claudius (Uncle)
Nero • 54-68 (Great nephew to Claudius) • Good administrator but vicious • Murdered many • Persecuted Christians • Attempted to murder mother X6 • Murdered ex-wives • Murdered Christians • Committed suicide
The Good Emperors • Gradually peace came about under the “Good Emperors” • Nerva • Trajan • Hadrian • Antoninus Pius • Marcus Aurelius • During their rules the empire increased in size and wealth.
Nerva • 96-98 (served under Nero and following emperor) • Began choosing heir • Oath – wouldn’t execute Senators • Released innocent prisoners and exiles • Loans+5% interest = support needed children • No gold/silver statues
Trajan • 98-117(adopted son of Nerva) • Empire reached its greatest extent • Undertook vast building program • Social welfare grew
Hadrian • 117-138 (second cousin of Trajan) • Consolidated earlier conquests • Reorganized the bureaucracy
Antoninus Pius • 138-161 (son-in-law of Hadrian) • Reign largely a period of peace and prosperity
Marcus Aurelius • 161-180 • Brought empire to height of economic prosperity • Defeated invaders • Wrote philosophy
Diocletian • 245-313 • Doubled size of Roman armies • Claimed descent from gods • Persecuted Christians • Divided empire into East and West
Constantine • 285-337 • 1st Christian emperor • Legalized Christianity • Reunited East and West • Moved capital and renamed Constantinople