Society
Social Augustan Stratification
Senators Chief magistrates, high officers, governed something Weren't supposed to engage in trade or certain business Equestrians People who had served in army as calvary officers Could trade and make extra money Might be rewarded with membership in the senatorial class Lower Class Government provided entertainment to keep lower class from rioting
Roman Morals and Social Reform
Augustus was concerned with morals but had several relationships with different women even though he punished his daughter for adultery Made several laws to maintain public morals Adultery was strictly illegal Limited amount of money that people could spend on feast because he didn't believe there should be many parties Modified tax laws A woman with 3 or more children could make her own decisions without her husband Thought the state should have imperial cult Thought state should have religion Allowed people to worship his spirit but not him Let people worship the spirit of the town
A Golden Age of Latin Literature
Virgil (70-19 BC)
Honored Augustus The Aeneid Symbolizes Roman virtues Faithfulness Duty Piety
Horace (65-8 BC)
Son of a freed man Most famous for the Odes Short poems like songs Known for writing satires Weren't mean spirited but poked fun at people
Ovid (43 BC-AD 18)
Wrote metamorphosis Pygmalion Sculptor who makes his own ideal woman Lived slightly passed the time of Augustus
Livy (59 BC-AD 17)
Historian Born in Padua Wrote in form of poetry Modeled early explanation of Rome on Greek history Encouraged Romans to be strong moral people
Duty Tenacity Courage Discipline Self Others Founding of City
The Early Empire (14-180)
Julio-Claudian Dynasty (14-68)
Civil War-Year of the Four Emperors (69) Tiberius Nephew of Augustus Appointed as successor Senate accepted him without a problem Resigned Did not like latitorial games Didn't always agree with Senate Molested little boys Kaligula Sadistic lunatics Got name from playing with soldiers and wearing boots Kaligula "little boot" People thought he was charming but realized he was nuts Encouraged worship of himself Believed he was all the gods in one
Murdered by members of Roman army Claudius Family was ashamed of him because he limped Was a good administrator Established a civil service and effective imperial beurocracy Tried to get people jobs fairly Wife was Agroppina Had son Nero Had mother killed cause she was too bossy Had tutor killed Made Senica commit suicide among others Rome burned
Blamed Christians Considered to be atheist because they would not take part in Imperialistic cult or respect any other religion Romans felt bad with them because Nero treated them so badly Rome got better building materials when rebuilding
Committed suicide when army revolted against him Galba Governor of Spain which was a Roman province Governed only briefly
The Flavians (69-96)
Vespasian (69-79) Army officer Elected by his troops Was an aristocrat Served in the Senate
Had been a commander the of Roman army when the Romans conquered Britain Had a lot of experience Was ruled of Rome for 10 years Senate enacted "Law of Emperor Vespasian" First written statement with powers of the Emperor Emperors became like kings during this time Titus Son of Vespasian Cared for peoples' welfare Had a generous spirit Had served as a military leader in Britain Captured Jerusalem Served in military during father's reign so only for a few years Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius Destroyed Pompeii and Herculanium Dimition Referred to himself as Emperor Thought Romans had lax morals Wanted them to worship gods and previous rulers Extended empire into Dosia, which is now Romania and Hungary Tolerant of Jews and Christians Was disliked by Senate because he was so undiplomatic about having absolute rule Assassinated in his palace
The Five Good Emperors (96-180)
Period of Peace and Prosperity
"Best Period of Government" Power of Emperor increased at expense of the Senate Treated ruling classes with respect Cooperated with Senate Maintained peace in Empire Began an extensive building program Nerva (96-98) Did not have a son Everyone thought of him as an "old man" Chose Trajan as adopted son and successor All chose own successor except Markus Aurelius Trajan (98-117) Hadrian(117-138) Antonias Paris 138-161 Markus Aurelius 161-180 Chose son Commedos as successor Was not a good emperor
Roman Empire at its Height: Frontiers and Provinces
Empire at its Height
3.5 million square miles Borders were Danube and Rhine Rivers Everything North was Germany 50 million people Rome was located 18 miles inland on the Tiber River so it had access to the sea but was far enough in so it was safe from pirates
Roman frontiers
People worked there because it was prestigious and were sometimes rewarded with citizenship
Cities and Towns
Architecture was similar to Romans Alexandria, Eqypt Ephesus, Asia Minor Antioch, Syria
Prosperity in the Early Empire
Pax Romana-Roman Peace Trade Chief ports of Italy: one on Bay of Naples and Putioli and Ostia where Tiber River runs into sea Manufacturing Agriculture Latifundias-large farms mostlyin Southern and Central Italy usually owned by wealthy people Gulf between Rich and Poor
The Silver Age of Latin Literature
Seneca 4BC-AD65
Nero's tutor who was commanded to commit suicide Stoicism Believed that everything that happened was part of the divine plan and should be accepted calmly Common love for all people Wrote dialogues and letters about morality including generosity and mercy
Tacitus 56-120
Thought old emperors were selfish and cruel
Annals Histories Germania Valuable source of info about early Germans if you keep in mind that his point of view were noble savages "When the Roman army goes into a city they make it desert and call it peace"-about Pax Romana
Juvenal c. 55- c. 128
Wrote satires Made fun of women Made fun of people who abused their slaves Of Emperors Of immigrants, particularly from Greece Of his own wealth