FROM REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE A PRESENTATION BY: JACKSON WILKENS, ANDREW DE GALA, AND CHRISTIAN KOPPANG
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRINCIPATE 1. Augustus Caesar (30BCE-14CE) 2. Augustus as imperator 3. Further conquests
AUGUSTUS CAESAR,THE FIRST CAESAR Augustus (63BCE-14AD) was the first emperor of Rome after his adoptive father, Julius Caesar, was assassinated by the Roman senate. His rise to power was because of tactfully combining the Roman military might with the Roman government and its lawmaking. He lay the foundation for the 200 years of peace, Pax Romana. Finally he set up an empire that would last for in one form or another for 1500 years.
AUGUSTUS` ASCENSION TO POWER Augustus` ascension to power began with having to battle with Mark Antony, a powerful rival. Augustus` troops beat Mark Antony and set up an uneasy alliance with the rival leader in the form of a triumvirate government with himself, Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus, a minor leader. Mark Antony was forming a political alliance with Cleopatra of Egypt forcing Augustus to declare war against Cleopatra. In 32BCE a naval battle occurred between Mark Antony and Cleopatra against Augustus. Augustus defeated the enemy fleet and his enemies committed suicide leaving Augustus the undisputed leader of Rome.
AUGUSTUS` RULE AND GOLDEN AGE During Augustus` rule he set up: -Alliances where Rome had influence over lands in India and the British Isles. -Doubled the size of the Empire with territories in Europe and Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). -Instituted many censuses and a system for even the furthest of provinces of Rome -Founded a body-guard organization for protecting himself and future emperors of Rome, the Praetorian Guard -The Roman postal service -Established Roman police force and firefighters -Beautified and improved the capital city, Rome
AUGUSTUS AS IMPERATOR The title Imperator is bestowed upon a commander when they have won a major victory. After Augustus had defeated his rivals he gave up his power in the senate only to be eagerly invited back by the Senate. Originally Augustus called himself Princeps or first citizen. Through this he gained control over all of Rome. Later on Augustus used the title of Imperator as if it was his first name, he later made his name when he was made "emperor" Imperator Caesar Augustus. These titles would later be used interchangeably to mean Emperor.
EMPEROR IN EVERY SENSE BUT THE WORD In 19BCE Augustus had received the title of Imperium Maius (supreme power). This means Augustus had complete power over all of Rome and her territories. This also means that even the senate couldn`t stop him if he really wanted to do what he wanted to do. He laid down the foundation for rule by Emperors rather than rule by the people/oligarchs.
FURTHER CONQUESTS After Augustus` ascension to the throne their were many conquests in the time of the empire. Battle of Teutoburg (9CE) This was a major defeat for the Romans losing three legions because of the thick forests and hit and run style the Germanic forces used. This battle is considered Rome`s worst defeat. Settled the border between Germanic tribes and Rome.
CONQUESTS (CONT) Invasion of Britain (43CE-77CE) Emperor Cladius launches an invasion of the British Isles to appease his enemies in the senate. The Campaign ends in 77CE but Britain is never fully conquered with pockets of resistance in the islands. War with Parthia (114CE-116CE) Emperor Trajan begins a war with Parthia, a group in modern-iran, by annexing Armenia, northern Mesopotamia. Romans finally control northern Mesopotamia but Trajan`s successor, Hadrian decides to make peace with Parthia.
ROMAN BATTLE FORMATIONS Orbis Formation Shield wall Turtle formation video
ECONOMIC LIFE IN THE EMPIRE 1. Exploration of subject people 2. The problem of decadence 3. Flourishing of Trade and administrative cities 4. Luxury trade and its profits
EXPLOITATION OF SUBJECT PEOPLE Roman farmers who produced a surplus of goods were asked to donate large portions of their crops or pay a heavy tax. Slavery in ancient Rome played an important role in society and the economy. Besides manual labor, slaves performed many domestic services, and might be employed at highly skilled jobs and professions. Accountants and physicians were often slaves. Tiberius took in order to limit the Aristocrats' wealth and land-ownership, and done in response to Augustus's massive private and public expenditures. Prior to 33AD, Augustus engaged in lavish spending in the public and private sector, while greatly encouraging land ownership and investment in real estate. Augustus thought that all citizens should have access to land and money. As a result, he aggressively engaged in a massive extension of credit into the real estate and public sector, and engaged in riskier and riskier loans. Due to his policies, land and real estate prices rose dramatically, benefitting his wealthy and noble land-owner friends who owned large amounts of property and invested heavily in real estate.
THE PROBLEM OF DECADENCE Decadence- Moral or cultural decline as characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury. One can easily see why the over indulgence could weaken the people in a sense. The second century B.C. politician Cato the Elder constantly complained of the increasing luxury of the Romans and his opponents (for example, Plutarch, Cato Maior 3) and claimed that Roman military virtue was declining as a result.
FLOURISHING OF TRADE AND ADMINISTRATIVE CITIES The port for Rome, Ostia, was founded around 620 B.C.E. The items they traded included food such as meat, beer, salt, and wine, it also included items made from wood, glass, etc. and also gold, silver, and copper Tabularium was located in the western area of the Forum Romanum, it was the recordkeeping office in Rome. Very careful records were kept here including official commercial, political, and military occurrences and events
LUXURY TRADE AND ITS PROFITS Members of the Roman Senate and their families were prohibited in any form of trade At a marketplace called Forum Cuppedenis various delicacies were sold Trajan's Market was said to sold items from all over the empire including exotic spices A benefit of luxury items in markets was that since they were so expensive pottery and glass items became cheaper
BIBLIOGAPHY History.com Staff. (2009). Augustus. Retrieved September 26, 2017, from http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/emperor-augustus Augustus. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2017, from https://www.ancient.eu/augustus/ Imperator. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2017, from http://www.livius.org/articles/concept/imperator/ Ancient Roman Wars and Battles Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2017, from http://www.softschools.com/timelines/ancient_roman_wars_and_battles_timeline/357/ Retrieved 26 September 2017 Sehttp://education.seattlepi.com/roman-republicscontributions-economics-6528.html Luxury Trade. (n.d.). Retrieved Septmber 26, 2017 from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/luxu/hd_luxu.htm