Rome: The Early Empire

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
  armySenate 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 powermore corruption
• Nero, after killing his own mother, loses the
  respect of the army, and after his guards leave
  him, he commits suicide
• After Neros 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 PeninsulaTrajan
• 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

• Citiesimportant
• Facilitated the spread of Roman law, language and
  culture
• Legions stationed at forts on frontiers
• Many people given rights of citizens
• Latinofficial language in west
• Greekofficial 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