The Beginning of the Empire After Caesar’s death, the Second Triumvirate was formed. Mark Anthony: A general in Caesar’s army Octavian: Caesar’s nephew and adopted son Marcus Lepidus: Another general in Caesar’s army All three wanted complete power and civil war broke out. Octavian’s armies defeated both men and he was the sole ruler of Rome.

Octavian Mark Anthony Marcus Lepidus

Augustus Caesar In 27 BCE, four years after Octavian defeated Mark Anthony, the Senate awarded Octavian with the title Augustus Augustus meant “highly respected” and it marked the beginning of the Roman Empire People were so grateful for the peace Octavian’s rule brought that they gave up their rights to a republic and made him king. Augustus’s rule marked the beginning of a time period called the Pax Romana. It was a period of 200 years of peace. Augustus ruled for 41 years

Roman Empire under Marcus Aurelius

Governing an Empire The empire was organized into provinces. Each province had a Roman governor and an army to support him Rome allowed its conquered people to keep their culture as long as there was peace Many conquered people adopted Roman customs and language. Roman coins were used throughout the empire. Trade was what made the empire successful. Wine and olive oil were the major exports. Grain was the major import. The Mediterranean Sea was cleared of pirates by the Roman navy Provinces traded with each other as well as other countries

Many Emperors After the death of Augustus in 14 AD, Rome had many emperors. Some bad: Caligula and Nero Some good: Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius Under Marcus Aurelius, the empire grew to its largest size, stretching from Britain to the middle east After Marcus Aurelius died in 180 AD, the empire began to decline.