1. EMPERORS OF ROME

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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!)

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. Constantine
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

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

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