Chapter 6 The Roman Empire 27 B C

Chapter 6 The Roman Empire, 27 B. C. E. -284 C. E.

Learning Objectives: Questions to Consider • How did Augustus attempt to solve the problems that had caused the fall of the Roman Republic? • What was the significance of the Roman army during the Principate? • Why are the first two centuries of the Roman Empire known as the “Roman Peace? ” • What was the place of Christianity in the Roman world during the Principate? • What factors caused the imperial crisis of the third century C. E. ?

Augustus and the Creation of the Roman Empire, 27 B. C. E. – 14 C. E. • Augustus the Emperor – Staying Alive – Octavian and the Senate – The Creation of the Roman Empire • Titles: Augustus • The Principate (27 B. C. E. -284 C. E. ) – The Emperor’s Powers • The Fiction of the Republic’s Restoration

Augustus and the Creation of the Roman Empire • The Unification of the Roman World – Augustus and the Army • The Praetorian Guard – Augustus’s Frontier Policy • Rome’s Garrison Army – The Spread of Romanization – Provincial Administration • Praetorian Prefect • Decurions – The Role of Coinage

Augustus and the Creation of the Roman Empire • The Unification of the Roman World – The Imperial Cult – The Spread of Roman Citizenship

Augustus and the Creation of the Roman Empire • The Age of Augustus – The Preservation of Roman Values – The Golden Age of Latin Literature • Vergil’s Aeneid – Popular Expenditures

The Roman Peace, 14 -192 C. E. • The Successors of Augustus – The Imperial Succession • Securing the Loyalty of the Army: the Donative – Problems with Imperial Succession • The Praetorian Guard and the Julio-Claudians • The Flavian Dynasty (69 -96 C. E. ) • The Antonine Dynasty (96 -192 C. E. ) – The End of Roman Expansion • The Policies of Trajan and Hadrian – The Emperor’s Authority

The Roman Peace, 14 -192 C. E. • Greco-Roman Culture – The Rise of the Provinces • Caracalla (r. 211 -217 C. E. ) and Citizenship – The Rights of Disadvantaged Persons • Improving Conditions for Women and Slaves – Education in the Empire – The Silver Age of Latin Literature (14 -200 C. E. ) • History: Tacitus (ca. 56 -117 C. E. ) • Science: Ptolemy of Alexandria (ca. 90 -168 C. E. ) and Galen of Pergamum (ca. 129 -200 C. E. )

The Roman Peace, 14 -192 C. E. • Urban Life – The City of Rome – Provincial Cities – Daily Life in the Roman World • Entertainments – The Last Days of Pompeii • The Eruption of Vesuvius (79 C. E. )

The Roman Peace, 14 -192 C. E. • Economic Activity – Roman Agriculture • Labor: Slaves and Coloni – Roman Commerce • Currency and Subsidies – Evidence from Coin Hoards – Rome and the Barbarians

Religion in the Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity • State and Private Religion – Holy Men • The Jews in the Roman World – Rome and the Jews – The Jewish Revolt, 66 C. E. – Maintaining Jewish Identity • Rabbis, the Talmud (with Mishnah), and Halakha

Religion in the Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity • The Teachings of Jesus of Nazareth – The Life of Jesus • Sources: the New Testament (the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles) • The Expected Christ – The Ministry of Jesus • A New Covenant of Grace – The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus

Religion in the Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity • Early Christian Communities – The Spread of Christianity • Proselytizing and Martyrdom – The Ministry of Paul • Converting the Gentiles • Missions and Letters – Christian Identity • The Importance of Community • Expectations of the Apocalypse

Religion in the Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity • Early Christian Communities – Christian Rituals • The Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist – Original Sin – The Punishment of Excommunication – Christian Communities • Urban Flourishing – The Authority of Bishops by Apostolic Succession – Deacons • Antisemitism

Religion in the Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity • The Christians in the Roman World – Misconceptions – Christianity and the Roman Government • Persecution – The Power of Saints and Relics – Apostasy – Christianity Goes Mainstream • Apologists and the Case for Christianity

The Roman Empire in Crisis, 193 -284 C. E. • The Severan Dynasty • The Ruin of the Roman Economy – Debasement of the Currency – Problems in Urban Life • The Imperial Crisis – Civil Wars, Foreign Invasions, and Soldier Emperors • Franks, Alamanni, Goths, and the New Persian Empire