ROME AFTER AUGUSTUS MARCUS AURELIUS Marcus Aurelius ruled

ROME AFTER AUGUSTUS

MARCUS AURELIUS Marcus Aurelius ruled 200 years after Augustus. All this time is called the Pax Romana, meaning “Roman peace. ” During this time, people moved easily and freely throughout the empire, and were able to trade with others.

GOLDEN AGE OF ROME The Pax Romana is considered the golden age of Rome. This is when the empire was at it’s finest. Also during this time, Christianity begins to spread around the Roman Empire.

ROMAN ACHIEVEMENT One great thing about the Roman Empire was the fact that it mixed many different cultures together, specifically the Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman cultures. Eventually, this developed into something called the Greco-Roman civilization. Trade and travel during the Pax Romana helped spread this new civilization. Temple for Mars

LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY Horace is an example of an author who use satire to attack human mistakes. Satire- verse or prose that pokes fun at human weakness Horace

TWO SYSTEMS OF LAW In Rome, they developed two systems of law. The first was called Civil Law, which involved people that lived in Rome. The second system was called the Law of Nations. This applied to all people under Roman rule, citizens and non-citizens. They also came up with the idea of “innocent until proven guilty” and defense attorneys.

PROBLEMS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE The Roman Empire experienced many problems during Marcus Aurelius’ reign. Military Immigration Bureaucracy Economy

BATTLES ON THE BORDER Aurelius is fighting northern invaders at the Danube River Parthian province is being invaded by Persians into Armenia Aurelius has legions fighting in Mauretania (North Africa) Aurelius must decide where to focus legions Spreading his military too thin Parthian War

EFFECTS OF PARTHIAN WAR Cassius becomes popular in eastern provinces Eastern provinces jokes on Aurelius Rebellions continue along the Roman borders. Legions bring plague back with them Decimates military and civilian populations

NORTHERN BORDERS German tribesmen, “barbarians”, began to pour across the Danube - AD 166 Germans wanted the better farmland under Roman control

IMMIGRATION Many Germanic tribes moved south because of the pressure they felt from other tribes Plague wiped out many of the farmers of Rome, which left open, farmable land. Many immigrants were brought to work the land for the Romans and not given legal status. Many immigrants were hired as mercenaries. Some officials criticized the policy. Mercenary- a professional soldier; fights for money instead of loyalty

BUREAUCRACY People working for the Roman government: governors, tax collectors, judges, soldiers, messengers, and engineers. The size of the Roman Empire made communication and regulation of government agencies complicated.

ECONOMY The economy of the western portion of the empire has never been fully developed. Eastern cities become wealthy and powerful. Due to the decreasing gold supply, inflation becomes a huge problem. Increasing military costs are adding to the problems of the crumbling economy.

M. AURELIUS’S REACTION TO PROBLEMS AD 169 - Imperial property was auctioned to pay for the costly wars. He lowered the fee for a Senate seat to make it more affordable for the less wealthy. Public assistance for hospitals, free burial due to the plague, and orphanages.

THE LONG DECLINE

CRISIS AND REFORMS Pax Romana ends and the next 100 years are times of political and economic decline Who rules after a emperor is dies? ? ?

CRISIS AND REFORMS Emperors were overthrown by ambitious generals Then those generals would be overthrown or assassinated by another general 50 year period with 26 different rulers, and only one died of natural causes

ECONOMIC AN SOCIAL PROBLEMS High taxes were being demanded to support armies, hurt the little man Many small farmers left their land to seek protection from wealthy land owners These farmers would work the land were not allowed to leave

EMPEROR DIOCLETIAN AD 284 set out to restore order Divided He empire into two parts kept control of the wealthy Eastern half Named a co-emperor to rule the Western half

DIOCLETIAN Diocletian still remained head emperor Tried to increase prestige of empire by: - surrounding himself with ceremonies - wore purple and expensive jewels - made people bow and kiss his robe Inflation – The rapid rise of prices

DIOCLETIAN He fixed prices for goods and services Wanted to slow down inflation Laws forcing farmers to stay on land follow in their father’s footsteps Economic stability

CONSTANTINE AD 312 Constantine takes the thrown and continues with Diocletian’s reforms Makes 2 important changes to the Roman Empire Granted toleration to Christians and encouraged the rapid growth of Christianity Built a new capital; Constantinople

CONSTANTINE Constantinople was located where the Black Sea meets the Aegean Sea Western Empire declining: Eastern empire prospering and becoming extremely wealthy