EMPERORS OF ROME https://vimeo.com/50938453

Tiberius 14 – 37 CE First half of his rule was good – continued Augustus’ policies After the death of his son (Drusus) he became paranoid and focused on treason trials – people were convicted w/o evidence

Caligula (Little Boots) 37 – 41 CE Started out good – ended bad… Botched a military campaign in Germany After a severe illness, Caligula began a series of murders of his friends and heirs After Caligula spent all of the money collected by Tiberius in 22 years, he raised taxes and made it mandatory that all nobles must bequeath their whole estate to him upon their death. Coincidentally, the nobles died under quick and unexplained circumstances. Killed by the Praetorian Guard

Claudius 41 - 54 Expanded the empire – added Judea, Thrace and Britain Building projects – aqueducts, roads, canals Murdered – probably by his wife Agrippina (who was also his niece!)

Nero 54 – 68 Adopted son of Claudius Murdered his own mother Agrippina, as well as his wife! Musician and poet – was said to have fiddled while Rome was on fire – he blamed this fire on the Christians whom he then persecuted / executed (wild animals, human torches) Committed suicide (or he would have been executed) – led to a civil war (the year of 4 emperors)

Hadrian 117 – 138 [21 yrs] Not into expansion – hold and secure - built Hadrian’s Wall to protect against the Picts of Scotland Rebuilt the Pantheon Revised the law code BUT persecuted the Jews – forbid practices such as Sabbath and circumcision

Diocletian 284 – 305 [21 yrs] - Stability Divided Rome into West & East Introduced the tetrarchy (2 emperors + 2 co-emperors) Tax reform Increased army BUT persecuted the Christians – told to sacrifice to the emperor + state gods OR lose their jobs AND he destroyed their places of worship + scriptures Retired

Constantine 307 - 337 Battle of Milvian Bridge against his co- emperor Maxentius – has a vision “By this sign you shall conquer” 1st Christian emperor – baptized on his deathbed Edict of Milan ended legal persecution of Christians Council of Nicaea to standardize Christianity Ruled Rome from Byzantium (later Constantinople) as sole ruler (end of tetrarchy in 312) Building program – St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

Emperor Theodosius I Makes Christianity the OFFICIAL religion of Rome in 380 CE

Romulus Augustulus 475 – 476 Last emperor of Rome Defeated by Odoacer (Germans) End of Western Roman empire