PowerPoint Presentation Colosseum

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Vespasian
Vespasian behaved most generously to all classes
granting exemptions to Senators who did not
posses the property qualifications of their
rank securing impoverished ex-Consuls an annual
pension of 5,000 gold pieces rebuilding on a
grander scale than before the many cities
throughout the Empire which had been burned or
destroyed by earthquakes and proving himself a
devoted patron of the arts and sciences. Sue
tonius
Matt S 1/11/02 Power point
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The Man

• Was born in 9 A.D. at Reate
• His family was of equestrian rank
• His talent and wit gave him a chance to be a
  quaestor
• Under Claudius he commanded a legion to a victory
  in South Britain

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His Climb to Power

• Under Nero he was elected governor of Africa and
  crushed the revolts of the Jews.
• After the deaths of Galba, Otho, and Vitellius he
  made a bid for supreme power and succeeded

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Colosseum

• Measurements
• 1719.14 feet perimeter
• Height 159.12
• The parts of the building
• The outer wall
• The tiers for spectators
• 7 tier podium for senators only

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The Games

• 3 types of games
• Wild beast hunting
• Gladiator battles
• Some stadiums would have naval battles

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Financial Woes

• Vespasian had to build up the Empires treasury
  after Nero
• Increased taxation on provinces by 100
• Taxed part of Greece that by Roman law was
  protected from Roman taxes
• Reclaimed public land from squatters
• Made new taxes
• Diverted all Jewish Temple taxes to the Roman
  Empire

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Marriage

• Wife- Flavia Domitilla
• Vespasian seemed to be loyal to his wife but
  there were some incidents that included other
  women
• 2 sons- Titus Domitian
• 1 daughter- Flavia Domitilla

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The Jewish Revolt

• The Jewish revolts were led mostly by Jewish
  Zealots
• Vespasian had been fighting in this war since he
  served under Nero
• The revolt ended at the fall of the Masada

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Masada

• Means fortress in Hebrew
• Held over 1,000 Zealots that had escaped from
  Jerusalem when it fell
• Was lead by Eleazarben Jair
• Withstood a two-year siege

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Important Dates of the Jewish Revolt

• Jerusalem falls to Titus 70 A.D.
• Fall of the Masada and the end of the Jewish
  revolt 74 A.D.

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Running the Show

• Vespasian kept the military, people, and the
  Senate happy
• Although the Senate behind his back called him a
  buffoon he was a witty well-rounded man
• There are many stories about Vespasians jokes

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Why He Was Loved

• Came shortly after Nero and Publicly denounced
  him
• Gave them entertainment at the Colosseum
• Gave the military jobs to do, he also was one of
  them
• Respected the Senate and paid them well

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His Sickness and the Succession

• He suffered from severe diarrhea
• woe is me me thinks I am becoming a god
• He wanted his sons to be the next Emperors or no
  one would
• He gave the throne to Titus his oldest son in 79
  A.D.

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This is Vespasian in a sitting position holding
what must be his sons Domitian and Titus. He was
probably doing this to show that he was going to
have his sons succede him. His hand gesture is
sort of showing the boy off to the Roman people,
saying look at your new Emperor.
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Bibliography

• Masada. Microsoft Encarta 96 Encyclopedia.
  1993-1995
• Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars. London Penguin
  Books Ltd, 1957.
• Scarre, Chris. Chronicle of the Roman Emperors.
  London Thames Hudson Ltd, 1995.
• The Flavian Emperors, http//library.thinkquest.or
  g/12654/fready.html?tqskip11tqtime0114.