PAX ROMANA

PAX ROMANA

I. Start of Pax Romana

II. Emperors after Augustus

III.Rome in Pax Romana

Start of Pax Romana

• 14 A.D. – Augustus Caesar’s death which marked the start of the Pax Romana. His rule gave Rome peace and made it very prosperous.

• Pax Romana means “the Roman Peace” in Latin. It lasted for 207 years, from 27 B.C- A.D. 180. During this time, Rome was stable and had a fair, orderly government.

Emperors after Augustus

There was no rule who the emperor would be when Augustus Caesar (Octavian) died, but the first four emperors were heirs from members of his family. The Julio-Claudian dynasty was composed of the four emperors who followed Caesar, who were related to him or to his wife, Livia.

The Julio-Claudian Dynasty

• spanned 27 BC to AD 68.• Called Julio-Claudians

because its Emperors belonged to the patrician families called the Julii and the Claudii

Tiberius (A.D. 14-37)

• Augustus’ stepson• ran empire well, despite

common plots of violence that rose

Caligula (A.D. 37-41)

• BAD EMPEROR• Cruel and insane• Was assassinated after four

years

Claudius (A.D. 41-54)

• restored order• made Britain part of empire

Nero (A.D. 54-68)

• BAD EMPEROR, last of Julio-Claudian dynasty

• Claudius’ stepson• His reign turned to bloodthirsty

violence• 64 A.D. – Fire broke out in

Rome and he blamed it on Christians and persecuted them

• Rebellions rose against him and he committed suicide

The Year of the Four Emperors (68 - 69 AD) and the Flavian Dynasty

• Following the suicide of Nero there was a brief period of civil war in Rome which resulted in the Year of the Four Emperors which saw the successive rise and fall of emperors until the final accession of Vespasian who became the first ruler of the Flavian Dynasty.

66 A.D.• Romans and Judeans fought

and clashed• Jews wanted to re-establish

their ancient kingdom• Nero sent Vespasian to Judea

to manage the rebellion• Vespasian’s soldiers declared

him emperor so he returned to Rome, leaving his son Titus to manage the war.

70 A.D.• Jerusalem was captured• Jews hid in mountaintop

fortress, Masada and resisted Romans for two years

73 A.D.• Fortress fell and people in

Masada committed suicide

Vespasian (A.D. 69-71)

• Started the Flavian dynasty, which included his two sons

• Restored discipline in army and empire

• Put down uprisings in Gaul and Judea

Titus (A.D. 79-81)

• Completed the Colosseum• Died of fever and was

succeded by brother

Domitian (A.D. 81-96)

• Last of the Flavian dynasty• BAD EMPEROR• Thought of himself as

Augustus and wanted to control public and private morals

• Strengthened economy and expanded empire

• Popular to people and army, but considered tyrant by Senate

• Was assassinated in 96 A.D.

Dynasties of Roman Emperors - Five Good Emperors & Nervan / Antonine Dynasty (96–192)

The Five Good Emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius (together with Lucius Verus, who ruled jointly with Marcus Aurelius, and Commodus ). The Five Good Emperors were so named by the political philosopher, Niccolo Machiavelli in 1503 due to their good government and the respect given to them by the people of Rome.

Nerva (A.D. 96-98)

• Chosen by Senate• GOOD EMPEROR• To ensure a succession of

competent and good rulers introduced the adoptive system

• Adopted his son Trajan and named him as successor

Trajan (A.D. 98-117)

• Expanded Empire• brought Mesopotamia

under Roman rule• conquered lands North of

Danube and East of the Black Sea

• Eased taxes• Aided the poor• Had extensive public building

programs• GOOD EMPEROR

Hadrian (A.D. 117-138)

• GOOD EMPEROR• Made the emperor more

secure rather than expanding it• Spent his time with the military• Invited more people from

provinces to join the army• Had a wall built along the

frontier of Britain

132-133 A.D.

• Another Jewish revolt rose• Hadrian suppressed it and made harsh

punishments• Non-Jews were encouraged to live in Jerusalem• Jews were allowed to enter Jerusalem only once a year• Jews were made slaves

Antoninus Pius (A.D. 138-161)

• GOOD EMPEROR• His reign was the most

peaceful, with no serious military disturbances

• Dealt with crisis differently

Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 161-180)

• GOOD EMPEROR• Last Emperor under Pax

Romana• Followed Stoic philosophies• Focused on border wars with

Germanic tribes• Abandoned adoptive system

and chose son Commodus as successor (but Commodus was a bad emperor)

Rome in Pax Romana: Expanded Empire

• Extended borders in Asia Minor, conquered most of Britain, secured frontiers in Europe and Danube River

• These helped in guarding Rome from civil wars and other warfare between cities.

Time of Order and Good Government

• Roman governors assisted officials, made laws and settled arguments

• Talented people from provinces were given the chance to be administrators

Prosperity

• Built roads• Cleared forests• Drained swamps• Improved harbors to develop trade• Irrigated deserts to turn undeveloped land to farms