1. Leaders of Rome

2. Nero’s Rise to Power Age 16 – takes the throne His mother convinces his stepfather to make Nero heir Stepfather, Claudius, dies Characteristics: Paranoid Unstable Cruel Self-absorbed Provider

3. Nero the Good stuff 1. reduced taxes 2. Banned capital punishment 3. Forbade contests involving bloodshed 4. Sponsored artists, poets, and musicians 5. No civil wars

4. Nero The Bad 1. Kills his whole family – including wife whose head was sent to him as a prize 2. Kills his former teacher 3. Watches Rome burn a. Blames the burning on the Christians 4. Built the Golden House which destroyed the Roman budget

5. Trajan Military officer Appointed governor of Germany Nerva (current emperor) adopts him 98 C.E. – Trajan becomes emperor Characteristics: Firm decision maker Love of his people Respectful and respected Modest personality

6. Trajan Accomplishments 1. Reduced taxes 2. Increased free food distribution 3. Maintain a constant supply of grain 4. Subsidies – created special funds for the poor 5. Major building program – roads 6. Aqueduct

7. Trajan Accomplishments 7. Forum 8. Puts down Dacian resistance and add them as a province 9. Defeated the Parthians and took their land

8. Map of Roman Expansion

9. Hadrian Cousin of Trajan Served in military and political posts May or may not have been named successor Characteristics: Loved learning Jealous – no criticism Willful and vengeful

10. Hadrian Accomplishments 1. Rebuilt a Greek city 2. Refomed the legal system a. Appointed new judges to help b. Put all principles and procedures into one Roman edict (document) 3. Sped up the legal process by adding more districts and judges 4. Managed provinces more directly a. Allowed him to hear what the people want

11. Hadrian Accomplishments 8. Stopped a rebellion by the Jewish people 9. Hadrian’s wall a. In Britain b. 8 ft thick 20 ft high c. Had forts and watchtowers

12. Hadrian’s Wall

13. Inventions and Changes Aqueducts – transported water across large distances Water was held in tanks

14. Inventions and Changes Economy – farming Gaul and Spain – Grapes and olives Britain and Egypt – grains Economy – industry Pottery, weaving, jewelry Worked with glass, bronze, and brass Economy – trading Two large Ports – Puteoli (near Naples) and Ostia (near the Tiber) Traded as far as China and India

15. Roads and Money Roads – stretched 50,000 miles (That is from here to California and back about 9 or 10 times) Common Currency (money) Same money is used everywhere Standard system of weights and measures Trade helped many but not all Farmers and city dwellers remained port and/or enslaved