(From left to right): a marble statue of Emperor Augustus, a marble statue of Diocletian, a marble statue of Constantine, and a marble statue of Theodosius.
END OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC - BEGINNING OF ROMAN EMPIRE (27 BC)
Octavian defeats Cleopatra and Marc Antony at the Battle of Actium and takes the title of Augustus (exalted one) to become the first Roman emperor.
FIRST ROMAN EMPEROR (27 BC - 14 AD)
The first Roman emperor was Augustus and he had many accomplishments; two of his most most important accomplishments were:
1.) In Rome, the tax collectors were cheating the citizens. So, Augustus changed the Roman tax system so the tax collectors would get paid regularly and there wouldn't be money stolen from the citizens. He did that to stop any corruption that could happen.
2.) Augustus feared that some citizens still might be unhappy with his leadership. So, Augustus imported grain from Africa and distributed it to the poor. Augustus thought that a well-fed population would be less likely to turn against him.
JULIO - CLAUDIAN EMPERORS (14 AD - 68 AD)
There were four other emperors in Augustus's family that ruled once he died. Those four emperors were Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.
YEAR OF FOUR EMPERORS (69 AD)
Emperor 1: Galba - one of Galba's supporters, Ohto, turned on him and killed him
Emperor 2: Otho - fought Vitellius, but lost and was killed
Emperor 3: Vitellius - Vespasian's friends fought Vitellius, and was killed
Emperor 4: Vespasian - became emperor
YEAR OF FIVE EMPERORS (193 AD)
Emperor 1: Pertinax - assassinated by the Praetorian Guard
Emperor 2: Didius Julianus - Septimius had Didius decapitated
Emperor 3: Pescennius Niger - Septimius defeated him at the Battle of Issus
Emperor 4: Clodius Albinus - Septimius defeated him at the Battle of Lugdunum
Emperor 5: Septimius Severus - ruled over the Western Empire
YEAR OF THE SIX EMPERORS (238 AD)
Emperor 1: Maximinus Thrax (Thracian) - His Praetorian Guard killed him
Emperor 2: Gordian I - only lasted for 20 days; was killed in battle
Emperor 3: Gordian II - only lasted for 20 days; hung himself after hearing the new that his brother
Emperor 4: Pupienus - was brutally hacked to death by the Praetorian Guard
Emperor 5: Balbinus - assinated by the Praetorian Guard
Emperor 6: Gordian III - was killed in the Battle of Misiche
DIOCLETIAN (284 AD - 305 AD)
-Established property and income taxes to pay for roads, bridges, sewers, and defense
-To govern Rome, he established a Tetrarchy (rule by four)
-Established a Tetrarchy to end revolts, rebellions, and assassinations which had been occurring, on a weekly basis, somewhere in the empire for many years
-Divides the empire into two parts: east and west (the eastern empire is late called the Byzantine Empire)
-Both emperors of the east and west were called Augustus
-Both emperors in training of the east and west were called Caesar
-The emperor would adopt the emperor in training (Caesar) as his son, thereby establishing a dynasty (a family of rulers who rule over a country for a long period of time). This solves the problem of succession (who comes next) because now everyone knows who the next ruler will be
CONSTANTINE (306 AD - 337 AD)
-ruled from 306-337 AD
-established the Edict (a decree issued by a sovereign or other authority) of Milan
-the Edict of Milan declared that Christianity is legal and Christians could get their citizenship back, get their homes back, and get their church back
-Constantine converted to being a Christian
THEODOSIUS (379 AD - 395 AD)
-outlawed the Gladiator Games
-now, punishment was to work in the mines (couldn't be turned into a Gladiator), etc.
-declares that Christianity is the only legal religion (edict)
-Theodosius massacres people in Thessalonia
-Bisshop kicks him out of the church
-Theodosius tries to apologize, which makes the church above the government
FALL OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE - Romulus Augustus, 476 AD, Flavius Odoacer deposed Romulus and declared himself the ruler of Italy
7 REASONS FOR THE DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (476 AD)
1.) Non citizen Roman army
2.) Christianity becomes intolerant of other religions
3.) Too big to govern
4.) Too big to defend
5.) Barbarian invasions
6.) Taxes too high
7.) Wealthy not doing their fair share (paying taxes, joining the army, participating in government)