After existing for nearly 500 years as a Republic, popular government failed in ancient Rome and the Roman Empire began with the principate of Augustus. The Pax Romana lasted for nearly two centuries, from the ascension of Augustus in 27 BC until the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD. This was a critical period of history, as this was the time that the Roman Empire reached the peak of its power, many of the most famous works of Roman literature were published, and Christianity began its rise as a prominent Roman religion.
Unit Guide and Primary Sources
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"I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble." |
The Julio-Claudian Emperors
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Taking the title of imperator, along with several other offices, Augustus Caesar reformed Rome from a republican government to an imperial government led by a military leader. He was succeeded by four emperors from the Julio-Claudian family. The reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero form the Julio-Claudian dynasty, which lasted from 27 BC to AD 68.
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A PowerPoint presentation on this topic will be added as soon as one is available that is acceptable for sharing online. My current slides are in sad shape and in much need to revision.
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The Golden Age of Latin Literature
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The Pax Romana began in the midst of the Golden Age of Latin literature, the first part of which included late republican writers like Cicero and Julius Caesar. The Augustan period of this Golden Age included the work of some of Rome's greatest writers: Livy, Virgil, Horace, and Ovid. While Augustus supported the work of Livy, Virgil, and Horace, Ovid wasn't so lucky, as the scandalous nature of his poetry conflicted with Augustus' goals of reforming Roman morality. Ovid spent his last years as an exile in Tomis, a faraway city on the Black Sea.
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PowerPoint Presentation |
The Rise of Christianity
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The reign of Augustus coincided with the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the founder of a sect of Judaism that soon became a vibrant religious movement with many Greek and Roman converts. This religious sect gained attention throughout the Roman Empire when Nero blamed the Christians for the Great Fire of 64 AD. From that point on, Christians were persecuted throughout the Pax Romana, though some emperors persecuted with more vigor than others.
The PowerPoint presentation for this topic is in an unfinished state but it is provided here for reference. |
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The Nerva-Antonine Dynasty
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Nerva's ascension as Roman emperor in 96 A.D. began a period of relative peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire that lasted nearly a century. His decision to adopt Trajan began a succession of "Five Good Emperors" or "Adoptive Emperors" because of the practice of adopting successors. The Roman Empire reached its greatest territorial extent under Trajan, the last great Roman conqueror. Trajan's successor, Hadrian, turned the empire's attention inward, pulling back from some some of his predecessor's conquests and building a namesake wall in Britain. Marcus Aurelius, the last of the Five Good Emperors, was a capable administrator and respected Stoic philosopher, but he neglected to select a competent successor. His natural son, Commodus, succeeded him but failed to preserve the Pax Romana, which ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius.
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PowerPoint Presentation |