Lecture 9: The Early Roman Empire 31 BCE - 284 CE

The Age of Augustus Pax Romana Octavian:

“Augustus Caesar” Imperial cult Republic to

Monarchy Senate: illusion of

power

The Rule of Augustus

Military power1. Reduction of army2. Loyalty + incentive3. Praetorian guard

Building projects Julian Marriage laws:

marriage, procreation, adultery

Julio-Claudian Dynasty 27 BCE–68 CE

Hereditary monarchy1. Tiberius - paranoia2. Germanicus

(“Caligula”) - insanity3. Claudius - conquers

Britain4. Nero – the great fire +

the “golden house”

Flavian Dynasty 69-96 CE

1. Vespasian – Colosseum

2. Titus – Seige of Jerusalem

3. Domitian – building restorations

Antonine Age 96-192 CE1. Nerva – Adopting an

heir2. Trajan – conquers

Dacians, builds forum3. Hadrian – wall,

pantheon4. Pious – peace before

the storm5. Marcus Aurelius –

barbarian threats

“The 5 Good Emperors”

Severan Dynasty (193-235 CE) Commodus +

Pertinax : end of the Antonine Age

Septimius Severus Caracalla 235-284: Military

anarchy + disorder

Roman Law and Citizenship Jus civile vs jus

gentium Natural law Civil vs. Criminal Law Spirit of the Law Codification Citizenship: inequality

Centers of Roman Lifeand Architectural Splendor

Roman Forum Colosseum Palatine Hill The Pantheon

Provincial Cities1. Rule of Governors2. Reforms under

Augustus Fairer taxation Governors: less power + corruption Provincial Councils Colonies +

Romanization

Rural Life

Colony + Villa Literary idealization Harsh realities Villa Urbana + Villa Rustica

Literary AchievementsHistorical Writing: Livy TacitusPoetry: Ovid Horace Virgil Juvenal

“What chiefly makes the study of history beneficial

and fruitful is this, that you behold the lessons of every kind of experience

as upon a famous monument; from these

you may choose for your own state what to

imitate, and mark for avoidance what is shameful....” -Livy

Juvenal, Excerpt“…think now about all those other perils of the

night: how high it is to the roof up there from which a tile falls and smashes your brains; how

many times broken, leaky jars fall from windows; how hard they strike and break the

pavement. You could be thought lazy and careless if you go to dinner without writing a

will. There are as many deaths waiting for you as there are open windows above your head. Therefore you should hope and fervently pray that they only dump their sewage on you…”

Scientific DiscoveriesGalen Medicine and

Philosophy Anatomy

Ptolemy The Almagest –

Geocentric universe Guide to Geography

Judaism in the Roman Empire

Jews in Rome Judea: Great Revolt of 66 CE Destruction of Temple Bar-Kokhba rebellion 132 CE Mishnah

What do you need to know? Augustus: What important reforms/changes

does he bring? Successor dynasties: general

characteristics, important events Significance of Roman law Architectural centers of Roman life? Provincial cities: changes under Augustus? Artistic/literary developments: general

styles/themes/discoveries of writers Key developments for Judaism