Western Civilization Blog Post #54 - Rome

May 28th, 2020

Slideshow Notes

  • Octavian, Julius Caesar's grandnephew, takes over at the young age of 18
    • He creates the Second Triumvirate with:
      • Mark Antony - a general
      • Lepidus - a politician
    • Octavian forces Lepidus to retire
    • Octavian and Mark Antony become enemies
    • Mark Antony makes an alliance with Cleopatra
    • Octavian defeats the alliance at the Battle of Actium
    • Octavian is given the title of "Augustus" and "imperator"
      • "Augustus" - "Exalted one"
      • "imperator" - supreme military commander
    • The Roman republic has now become an empire
    • Octavian ruled as emperor from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D. (40 years)
    • He began the Pax Romana, an era of peace and prosperity which lasted from 27 B.C. to 180 A.D. (207 years)
    • He died of natural causes
  • An age of emperors emerged after Octavian's death
    • Tiberius
      • 14 A.D. to 37 A.D.
      • good general; not so good emperor
      • after his son's death, he left Rome, leaving his prefects in charge
      • died at the age of 77
    • Caligula
      • 37 A.D. to 41 A.D.
      • was a tyrant
      • assassinated by a group of praetorian guards, Senators, and the imperial court
    • Claudius
      • 41 A.D. to 54 A.D.
      • had a physical disability; most likely cerebral palsy
      • was a good ruler
      • died by poisoning
    • Nero
      • 54 A.D. to 68 A.D.
      • wanted to rebuild Rome to be more majestic
      • overspent and often raided temples for money

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