January 30 & 31, 2012

World History

Caesar Augustus

• Octavian came to power in 31 BC• He was made emperor of the Roman Empire

in 27 BC• He took the name “Augustus” which means

“revered one.”• Augustus restored the republic.

Caesar Augustus

• Augustus gave freedmen, or former slaves, a chance to be a part of the government.

• Augustus concentrated on governing the empire instead of expanding it.

• He ordered a census, or population count, to be taken from time to time throughout the empire.

Caesar Augustus

• Because of Augustus’ many reforms, Rome entered a time of peace and prosperity called the “Pax Romana.”

Pax Romana

• The Pax Romana lasted 200 years.• Trade increased within the empire during the

Pax Romana.• There were no tariffs, or taxes placed on

goods brought into the country.

Pax Romana

• Roman law went through many changes as Rome expanded its empire.

• The law was standardized about 125 AD.• Roman legal principles formed the basis of

most western nations and of the Christian Church.

Daily Life

• About 1 million people lived in Rome.• Rome suffered from problems such as

overcrowding, fires, crime, pollution, and unemployment.

Daily Life

• The wealthy lived in marble houses called domuses.

• Most Romans were not wealthy and lived in apartment houses that were called islands.

Daily Life

• Boys and girls both went to school until age 12.

• Romans socialized at the public bathhouses • The Roman government staged free public

games, such as gladiatorial games, to entertain the people.

Fall of the Empire

• The major reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire were:– Lack of a formal rule about who was to inherit the

throne– Inflation, or a period of ever-increasing prices– Attacks by Germanic invaders

Fall of the Empire

• Two emperors, Diocletian and Constantine I, tried to save the Roman Empire from collapse, but neither succeeded in the end.

• Diocletian established a new policy called rule by divine right which means the emperor’s powers and right to rule came not from the people but from the gods.

• Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople in present-day Turkey.

Fall of the Empire

• In 410 AD, Rome itself fell to Germanic invaders.