Julius Caesar

•His family claimed descent from Venus.

•He gathered his power in Gaul (modern France) where he conquered and ravaged the countryside

•Returned to Italy and crossed the Rubicon River without disbanding his army.

•When Caesar cross the Rubicon, he ignited a civil war.

•His primary rival was Pompey, whom he defeated shortly after fighting began

Caesar defeats Pompey at the battle of Caesar defeats Pompey at the battle of PharsalusPharsalus

In GreeceIn Greece

PHARSALUS

Why did they murder Caesar?Why did they murder Caesar?“Et tu Brute?!”“Et tu Brute?!”

•He even brought her back to Rome!

•The Senate feared that he would form an monarchy with her…

•The “Roman mob” loves Caesar.

•Assassinated by Cassis, Brutus, et. al. on the Ides of March (15th)

After Pompey was defeated, Caesar’s After Pompey was defeated, Caesar’s passionate love affair with Cleopatra passionate love affair with Cleopatra intensified. intensified.

Cleopatra hooks up with Mark Cleopatra hooks up with Mark Antony…Antony…

•After Caesar’s death in 44BC

•Antony is formerly Caesar’s right-hand man

•A romantic and military alliance

•Defeated by Octavian, Caesar’s nephew and adopted son (later Augustus Caesar) at the Battle of Actium

Augustus Caesar (formerly known Augustus Caesar (formerly known as Octavian)as Octavian) Great-nephew/adopted Great-nephew/adopted

son of Julius Caesarson of Julius Caesar Brought a much needed Brought a much needed

stability and firmly stability and firmly established imperial established imperial system of rule.system of rule.

Arts and literature Arts and literature flourished: Vergil, flourished: Vergil, Horace, Ovid, etc. Horace, Ovid, etc.

Why a Cupid riding a dolphin?

Augustus begins the Julio-Claudian Augustus begins the Julio-Claudian dynastydynasty

Linked to the gens Iulia and gens claudiaLinked to the gens Iulia and gens claudia First First fivefive emperors are J-C emperors are J-C Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius,

and Neroand Nero 27BC-68 AD27BC-68 AD

TIBERIUS TIBERIUS

Married Augustus’ daughter and became a Married Augustus’ daughter and became a JulianJulian

Famous as a general (Germania)Famous as a general (Germania) Tristissumus hominum: really depressedTristissumus hominum: really depressed Exiled himself from Rome Exiled himself from Rome Scandalous rumorsScandalous rumors Succeeded by Caligula (adopted Succeeded by Caligula (adopted

grandson)grandson)

Caligula (37-41 A.D.)Caligula (37-41 A.D.) His reign is poorly His reign is poorly

documented…but everyone documented…but everyone agrees he was crazy.agrees he was crazy.

Openly autocratic and Openly autocratic and disrespectful to the Senate.disrespectful to the Senate.

Incest with his sisters. Incest with his sisters. He eventually winds up He eventually winds up

assasinated.assasinated. Weakens the Roman state Weakens the Roman state

through corruption. through corruption.

Incitatus (Caligula’s horse)Incitatus (Caligula’s horse) Made a senator to Made a senator to

disrespect the Senatedisrespect the Senate Caligula built him a palace of Caligula built him a palace of

marblemarble Ate oats mixed with goldAte oats mixed with gold Hosted dinner partiesHosted dinner parties Had 18 personal servantsHad 18 personal servants

CLAUDIUSCLAUDIUS Unlikely emperorUnlikely emperor Some type of illness: Some type of illness:

weird voice, weak weird voice, weak knees and elbowsknees and elbows

Capable Capable administratoradministrator

Public worksPublic works Conquered in BritainConquered in Britain PoisonedPoisoned

Cladius, Nero’s great-uncle

Nero (64-78 A.D.)Nero (64-78 A.D.)

First 5 years of his reign are actually good.First 5 years of his reign are actually good. Great fire in 64 AD, started near the Circus Great fire in 64 AD, started near the Circus

Maximus. Maximus. Spread through 75% of Rome.Spread through 75% of Rome. The plebs blamed Nero, said that he The plebs blamed Nero, said that he

“fiddled while Rome burned.”“fiddled while Rome burned.”

Persecution of the ChristiansPersecution of the Christians

Martyred Peter and PaulMartyred Peter and Paul Blamed Christians for the great fire so Blamed Christians for the great fire so

people wouldn’t blame him.people wouldn’t blame him. Coated Christians with pitch and used Coated Christians with pitch and used

them to light the night.them to light the night. Eventually killed himself, after he was Eventually killed himself, after he was

going to be toppled by a revolt. going to be toppled by a revolt.

““Five Good Emperors of the Roman Five Good Emperors of the Roman Empire.”Empire.”

Term coined by Edward Gibbon in the Term coined by Edward Gibbon in the “History of the Decline and Fall of the “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.”Roman Empire.”

96-180 AD-Five “benevolent despots”96-180 AD-Five “benevolent despots”

NervaNerva

11stst of the emperors to pick his of the emperors to pick his successor based on ability, not successor based on ability, not family connections. family connections.

Domitian (previous emperor)Domitian (previous emperor)had instituted reign of had instituted reign of

terror_executed many for treason, terror_executed many for treason, etc.etc.

Nerva granted amnesty; banned Nerva granted amnesty; banned prosecutions for treason.prosecutions for treason.

Trajan (98-117)Trajan (98-117) Second good emperorSecond good emperor Under Trajan, the empire reached Under Trajan, the empire reached

it’s greatest territorial extent. it’s greatest territorial extent.

Hadrian (117-138)Hadrian (117-138)

Versatile and artistic—Versatile and artistic— A great patron of the artsA great patron of the arts Under Hadrian, the Pantheon Under Hadrian, the Pantheon

was rebuilt in its domed form…was rebuilt in its domed form…

PantheonPantheon

Interior

Temple of “All the Gods” built for the state religion in Rome.

Antoninus Pius (138-161)Antoninus Pius (138-161)

Adopted son and sucessor to Adopted son and sucessor to HadrianHadrian

44thth good emperor good emperor Period of relative peacePeriod of relative peace Longest reign since AugustusLongest reign since Augustus Earned the name “pius” Earned the name “pius”

because he insisted the because he insisted the Senate give divine honors to Senate give divine honors to HadrianHadrian

Marcus Aurelius (162-180)Marcus Aurelius (162-180)

Last of the five good emperorsLast of the five good emperors Stoic philosopherStoic philosopher

Rely on reason, not emotionRely on reason, not emotion

Relative peace ends: Rome Relative peace ends: Rome fights with Parthians in the East, fights with Parthians in the East, and Germanic peoples to the and Germanic peoples to the North. North.

From MeditationsFrom Meditations

"If mind is common to us, then also the "If mind is common to us, then also the reason, whereby we are reasoning beings, reason, whereby we are reasoning beings, is common. If this be so, then also the is common. If this be so, then also the reason which enjoins what is to be done or reason which enjoins what is to be done or left undone is common. If this be so, law left undone is common. If this be so, law also is common; if this be so, we are also is common; if this be so, we are citizens; if this be so, we are partakers in citizens; if this be so, we are partakers in one constitution; if this be so, the Universe one constitution; if this be so, the Universe is a kind of Commonwealth." (4.4) is a kind of Commonwealth." (4.4)

Marcus Aurelius, cont. Marcus Aurelius, cont.

Wrote Wrote MeditationsMeditations, a Stoic philosophical , a Stoic philosophical work, which is praised for its tenderness work, which is praised for its tenderness and sincerity.and sincerity.

Made Commodus (his real kid) co-Made Commodus (his real kid) co-emperor in 177, this ended the practice of emperor in 177, this ended the practice of “adopting” a fitting successor“adopting” a fitting successor

Commodus (180-192)Commodus (180-192)

Son of Aurelius and Faustina (supposedly)Son of Aurelius and Faustina (supposedly) Co-emp with his dad, then sole emp. after Co-emp with his dad, then sole emp. after

he died. he died. Loved by the people at first, and hated by Loved by the people at first, and hated by

the Senatethe Senate

CommodusCommodusWhy was he considered crazy?Why was he considered crazy?

Dressed up like Hercules with a lion skin Dressed up like Hercules with a lion skin and a club. and a club.

Wanted to be associated with the mythical Wanted to be associated with the mythical slayer of all wild beasts as a protector of slayer of all wild beasts as a protector of Rome.Rome. Took part in gladiatoral games (Aurelius Took part in gladiatoral games (Aurelius

denounced the games all together)denounced the games all together) Won all of them he fought inWon all of them he fought in Also killed wild beasts in the arenaAlso killed wild beasts in the arena

CommodusCommodus

Renamed all the months after his own Renamed all the months after his own titles.titles.

Refounded Rome in 190 AD and declared Refounded Rome in 190 AD and declared himself the new Romulus.himself the new Romulus.

Renamed the legions after himself. Renamed the legions after himself.

Test Study GuideTest Study Guide

Last two good emperors are Antoninus Last two good emperors are Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. Pius and Marcus Aurelius.

Review Emperor notes and Roman Review Emperor notes and Roman Republic notesRepublic notes

Vocab. 13-15 (straight vocab).Vocab. 13-15 (straight vocab). Ch. 16 TranslationCh. 16 Translation Identifying and correctly translating the Identifying and correctly translating the

imperfect tense. imperfect tense.