The Roman EmpireThe Roman Empire

The Result of the Assassination The Result of the Assassination After Caesar’s After Caesar’s

assassinationassassination, three men , three men took control of Rome took control of Rome forming the 2forming the 2ndnd Triumvirate. Triumvirate.

Mark AntonyMark Antony, a supporter , a supporter of Caesar and a strong of Caesar and a strong general.general.

Octavian,Octavian, Caesar’s Caesar’s adopted son.adopted son.

Marcus Lepidus,Marcus Lepidus, a a patrician and one of patrician and one of Caesar’s greatest Caesar’s greatest supporters. supporters.

Reaction to Julius Caesar’s DeathReaction to Julius Caesar’s Death

Many people were Many people were very angry after very angry after Caesar’s deathCaesar’s death

The Roman The Roman middlemiddle and and lowerlower classes classes had respected had respected Caesar.Caesar.

They were upset that They were upset that other leaders had other leaders had killed him.killed him.

First Things FirstFirst Things First The 1The 1stst goal of the new goal of the new

Triumvirate was to Triumvirate was to punish punish the men who the men who killed Caesar.killed Caesar.

The murders thought they The murders thought they were going to be were going to be heroesheroes instead they had to flea instead they had to flea for their lives. for their lives.

Antony & Octavian set Antony & Octavian set out to kill the murders. out to kill the murders. By 42 B.C. they were all By 42 B.C. they were all killed or they had killed killed or they had killed themselves.themselves.

Octavian & AntonyOctavian & Antony

After the last of the After the last of the conspirers were killed conspirers were killed Octavian Octavian returnsreturns to to Rome while Antony Rome while Antony continues to head continues to head east and east and fightfight..

During which time During which time Antony Antony marries marries Octavian’s sister, Octavian’s sister, Octavia.Octavia.

An InsultAn Insult 8 years later, Antony 8 years later, Antony

divorces her to divorces her to marry the queen of marry the queen of Egypt, Egypt, Cleopatra.Cleopatra.

This was a huge This was a huge insult to Octavian insult to Octavian and his sister. and his sister.

Antony’s behavior Antony’s behavior led to a led to a civil warcivil war in in Rome.Rome.

The BattleThe Battle In 31 B.C. Octavian In 31 B.C. Octavian

sends a fleet to Egypt sends a fleet to Egypt to to attackattack Antony. Antony. This was known as This was known as the Battle of the Battle of ActiumActium. .

Antony’s fleet was Antony’s fleet was defeated, but he defeated, but he escapes back to escapes back to Egypt with Cleopatra.Egypt with Cleopatra.

There they both There they both commit commit suicidesuicide so so they wouldn’t be they wouldn’t be taken as prisoner by taken as prisoner by Octavian. Octavian.

Octavian Becomes Emperor Octavian Becomes Emperor Octavian becomes Rome’s Octavian becomes Rome’s

sole sole ruler and over the next ruler and over the next few years he gains nearly few years he gains nearly limitlesslimitless power. power.

Octavian used his power as Octavian used his power as emperor to bring emperor to bring order order and and stabilitystability to Rome. to Rome.

For this the Senate gave him For this the Senate gave him a new name; a new name; AugustusAugustus meaning the “Great One”meaning the “Great One”

His naming marks the His naming marks the endend of of the Roman Republic and the the Roman Republic and the beginningbeginning of the Roman of the Roman Empire. Empire.

Augustus Biography Augustus Biography What did he do?What did he do? As the leader of As the leader of

Rome, Augustus made many Rome, Augustus made many improvements in the city. He created a improvements in the city. He created a fire department and a police force to fire department and a police force to protect the city’s people. He built new protect the city’s people. He built new aqueducts and repaired old ones to aqueducts and repaired old ones to increase Rome’s water supply. increase Rome’s water supply. Augustus also worked on improving Augustus also worked on improving and expanding Rome’s road network.and expanding Rome’s road network.

Why is he important?Why is he important? As Rome’s first As Rome’s first emperor, Augustus is one of the most emperor, Augustus is one of the most significant figures in Roman history. significant figures in Roman history. Almost singlehandedly, he changed Almost singlehandedly, he changed the nature of Roman government the nature of Roman government forever. But Augustus is also known for forever. But Augustus is also known for the great monuments he had built the great monuments he had built around Rome. He built a new forum around Rome. He built a new forum that held statues, monuments, and a that held statues, monuments, and a great temple to the god Mars. In writing great temple to the god Mars. In writing about his life, Augustus declared, “I about his life, Augustus declared, “I found Rome a city of brick and left it a found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble.”city of marble.”

KEY EVENTSKEY EVENTS

45 BC45 BC Julius Caesar adopts Julius Caesar adopts Octavian as his son and heir.Octavian as his son and heir.44 BC44 BC Octavian moves to Rome Octavian moves to Rome when Caesar dies.when Caesar dies.42 BC42 BC Octavian and Antony defeat Octavian and Antony defeat Brutus.Brutus.31 BC31 BC Octavian defeats Antony. Octavian defeats Antony.27 BC27 BC Octavian takes the name Octavian takes the name Augustus and becomes emperor of Augustus and becomes emperor of Rome.Rome.

Rome’s Empire GrowsRome’s Empire Grows

Based on the map, why do you think the Romans called the Based on the map, why do you think the Romans called the Mediterranean “Our Sea”?Mediterranean “Our Sea”?

Rome’s Growing EmpireRome’s Growing Empire When Rome began as an When Rome began as an

Empire it already controlled Empire it already controlled most of the most of the Mediterranean Mediterranean Sea.Sea.

Later Emperors expanded Later Emperors expanded even more.even more.

In Rome’s In Rome’s conquestsconquests they they gained control of gold, gained control of gold, farmland, and other farmland, and other resources. resources.

This control also promoted This control also promoted trade. trade.

Nearly everyone accepted Nearly everyone accepted Roman Roman coinscoins, which helped , which helped trade grow even more.trade grow even more.

Pax RomanaPax Romana The 1The 1stst 200200 years of the years of the

Roman Empire was Roman Empire was generally peaceful, generally peaceful, helping Rome grow helping Rome grow wealthy. wealthy.

We call this peaceful We call this peaceful period Pax Romana, or period Pax Romana, or Roman PeaceRoman Peace..

During this time During this time population grew, trade population grew, trade increased, and people increased, and people got richer.got richer.

This lasted till 180 A.D.This lasted till 180 A.D.

Emperors:Emperors:The Good, the Bad, the UglyThe Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Some of Rome’s emperors were good such as Some of Rome’s emperors were good such as Augustus. Others were very poor leaders.Augustus. Others were very poor leaders.Caligula = Very cruel. Declared himself a god. Tried Caligula = Very cruel. Declared himself a god. Tried

to make his horse a senator. to make his horse a senator. Claudius = After Caligula. Returned stolen artwork. Claudius = After Caligula. Returned stolen artwork.

Improved laws. More citizenship.Improved laws. More citizenship.Nero = After Claudius. Poisoned step bro, killed Nero = After Claudius. Poisoned step bro, killed

mom and wife. Thought to burn down Rome. mom and wife. Thought to burn down Rome. Vespasian = Created the Colosseum Vespasian = Created the Colosseum Marcus Aurelius = Fair ruler. Lowered taxes. Sold Marcus Aurelius = Fair ruler. Lowered taxes. Sold

his own stuff to help the poor. Built schools & his own stuff to help the poor. Built schools & Hospitals. Hospitals.