1. Chapter 6
The Roman Empire

2. The Age of Augustus (31 B.C. – A. D. 14)
The New Order
Princeps
Senate
Army
28 Legions – 150,000 men
Auxiliaries – 130,000 men
Praetorian Guard
Imperator
Provincial Government
Attempts to Conquer Germany
Battle of Teutoburg Forest (9 A.D.)

3. Augustan Society Social Stratification Moral Legislation Senators
Own property worth 1 million sesterces
Equestrians
Own property worth 400,000 sesterces
Lower Class
Little political power
Moral Legislation

4. The Early Empire (14 – 180) Julio Claudian Dynasty (14 – 68)
Abuses and Corruption
Nero (54 – 68)
Civil War – Year of the Four Emperors (69)
The Five Good Emperors (96 – 180)
Period of Peace and Prosperity
Power of Emperor increased at expense of the Senate
Trajan (98 – 117)
Hadrian (117 – 138)

5. The Roman Empire from 14 to 117 (Augustus to Trajan)
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6. The Roman Empire at its Height: Frontiers and Provinces
Retrenchment
Empire at its Height
3.5 million square miles
50 million people
Universal Citizenship
Romanization
Cities and Towns as Administrative and Cultural Centers
Municipal Administration

7. Roman Aqueduct – Constantinople

8. Prosperity in the Early Empire
Trade
Manufacturing
Agriculture
Latifundias
Gulf between Rich and Poor

9. Mosaic Floor in a Roman Villa – Nora, Sardinia

10. Trade Routes and Products in the Roman Empire, c. 200
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11. Roman Culture and Society in the Early Empire
The Golden Age of Latin Literature
Virgil (70 – 19 B.C.)
Aeneid
Horace (65 – 8 B.C.)
Satires
Ovid (43 B.C. – A.D. 18)
Amores
The Art of Love
Livy (59 B.C. – A.D. 17)
History of Rome
The Silver Age of Latin Literature
Seneca (4 B.C. – A.D. 65)
Stoicism
Tacitus (56 – 120)
Annals
Histories
Germania

12. Roman Law The “Classical Age of Roman Law” Natural Rights
Basis for laws of present-day Western civilization

13. The Upper-Class Roman Family
Paterfamilias
Roles of women
Considerable freedom
Separate female sections
Influenced politics through their husbands

14. Imperial Rome 1 million people Overcrowded and Noisy City
Insulae – Apartment Blocks
Dangers – Fire and Building Collapse
Public Buildings
Temples, Forums, Markets, Baths, Theaters, Govt. Buildings and Amphitheaters
Food for the Poor
Entertainment
Bread and Circuses

15. Roman Bath with Heating Unit Underneath Nora, Sardinia

16. Gladiatorial Shows First in 29 B.C. The Colosseum
Gladiatorial Wild Beasts
Fulfilled a political and social need

17. Roman Amphitheater with Animal Pit in the Middle Syracuse

18. Crisis and the Third Century
The Terrible Third Century
Septimius Severus (193 – 211)
Severan Rulers (193 – 235)
Military Monarchy
Military Anarchy (235 – 284)
Civil Wars
22 Emperors in five decades
Germanic and Persian Invasions
Decline in Trade and Agriculture
Financial Weakness

19. Transformation of the Roman World: The Development of Christianity
The Religious World of the Roman Empire
State Religion focused on gods and goddesses
Cult of the Emperors
Mystery Religions
Mithraism

20. The Jewish Background Judaea Jewish Groups
Made Roman Province in 6 A.D.
Jewish Groups
Sadducees
Pharisees
Essenes
Zealots

21. The Origins of Christianity
Jesus of Nazareth (c. 6 B.C. – A.D. 29)
Preached humility, charity and brotherly love
Messiah
Paul of Tarsus (c. 5 – c. 67)
Second Founder of Christianity
Spread of Christianity
Pauline Epistles
Early Christians mostly Jews
Increasing number of non-Jews converted in the second century
Romans Criticize Christians
Romans Persecute Christians
Sporadic and Local

22. The Growth of Christianity
Centralized Organization
Bishops
Reasons for Growth
Message of Salvation
Familiarity
Universality – Open to men and women
Fulfilled human need to belong
Women and Christianity
Systematic Persecutions in the Third Century
Constantine
Edict of Milan grants toleration (313)

23. Discussion Questions
How was Augustus able to consolidate his power after becoming princeps?
How important was the emperor in the governing of the Roman Empire?
What were the major themes of Roman Golden and Silver Age literature?
What place did the lower classes occupy in Imperial Roman society?
What were some of the reasons for the success of Early Christianity?

24. Web Links Illustrated History of the Roman Empire
Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors
The Perseus Digital Library
The Roman Gladiator
Roman Britain
The Jewish Roman World of Jesus
The Early Church