• Emperor Nero

• Ruled from 54-68 AD

• The roman empire lasts over 500 years with 140 different emperors.

• Many emperors had absolute rule. Control of the military, Government and people.

Early beginnings

• In the beginning, Nero was well liked.

• He was personable and had a certain way with people

• Unfortunately for Nero (and Rome) his rule would end as violently as it began

Agrippina

• Nero’s mother, Agrippina, was a very dominating woman

• She was banned from Rome for many years before she came back and killed Emperor Claudius to put her son on the throne.

• The only opposition, Claudius’ son Britannicus, was poisoned soon after.

Gladiators! 50,000 Seated Spectators! This is where the ancient

Romans gathered to watch bloody combat between professional fighters called gladiators.

Colosseum

Bloody Battles! Wild Animals!

There were also battles between men and wild animals. Not everyone liked the bloody sports, but many did.

Colosseum

Admission was FREE.

Christianity

In ancient Rome the religion was that of the Roman Gods.

Many people were scared of christianity and what it was

becoming.

Emperor Nero persecuted the Christians because of their

differences.

Nero persecuted Christians

Nero ordered Christians to be thrown to the lions as part of the entertainment in the Colosseum.

Nero

Omens

There were several “Omens” that Tacitus describes as a sign of a necessity to remove Nero from

Power

• Unlucky birds settled on the capitol building

• Many houses crumpled during large earthquakes

• People were trampled under the feet of a fleeing crowd

• But the worst was yet to come

The Great Fire

• During Nero’s rule there was a great fire that lasted for six days. It decimated Rome’s houses and people.

• Many hypothesize that Nero himself started the fire, though that was never proven.

• 10 of Rome’s 14 districts were destroyed

Fire cont.

• What threw the senate and the people off after this was the fact that Nero, already under suspicion by many of insanity, was singing during the parts of the fire.

Unrest

• Many began questioning Nero

• There were several attempts to murder him through access to his Imperial guards by freed slaves.

• These attempts were thwarted and those behind them were either killed or were forced to kill themselves.

Nero

Nero was the emperor of Rome. He could send his army out to kill anyone, including members of the Senate and their families.

Nero

As time went on, Nero’s behavior became more and more murderous.

After a revolt in a Northern Roman

territory, the senate declared Nero a Public Enemy

The Senate ordered Nero’s immediate execution.

Nero

When Nero heard about it,he fled the area with his remaining slaves and killed himself instead.

Nero video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Wp4K8N7mU