Download Name Period # _____

Name _______________________________ Period # _____
Rise to Power
CAESAR
AUGUSTUS
(63 BC - AD 14)
Augustus’ _________
died when he was four.
His uncle ________
_______ needed an
_____ so he adopted
him.
After Caesar’s murder, Augustus
formed an alliance with _________
________ to defeat their enemies and
regain power.
After their victory Anthony took _____
and Augustus took _________ . When
their friendship fell apart, _________
defeated ___________ and made Egypt
part of the Roman Empire.
The period of peace and prosperity in the
Roman Empire that lasted from 30 BC to
180 AD is known as the _______
_________. This peace helped Rome
reach new heights in ___________
___________, _________, and the
_______. Augustus build massive
______ and _____________. He also
created a ______ that protected Rome
from invasion by ‘___________’
living outside the borders.
Because of the far
reaching borders of the Empire,
Rome became a diverse
_________ where people from
_____, _______ _______, and
the ______ ________ traded
with each other. Rome
imported _______ _____,
_______, and wood for
building projects.
Expansion of
Empire
During the Pax Romana (peace in Rome)
_______ increased which meant great
profits for _________. Many new ideas
also helped trade during this time such as
concrete ______, one set of _____ were
used across the empire to buy goods, and
the seas were protected from ________.
To keep the people of Rome happy
Augustus provided _____ _______,
_____ ______, and gladiator
contests. He also created 150
______ a year. On days of
celebration _______ Romans
would pack the Coliseum
(stadium). This made sure the
people of the Roman Empire were
too busy celebrating to think of
reasons to be unhappy with
Augustus!
Pax Romana
Treatment of People
Big Questions:
Directions: Using the notes you’ve gathered in your groups, answer the
following big questions with your partner:
1. What was the Pax Romana?
2. How did Augustus keep the Empire so peaceful?
3. Why did wealth increase dramatically for some Romans
throughout the Roman Empire during the Pax Romana? Explain
your answer!
4. What were changes that occurred in the Roman Empire during
the Pax Romana that helped trade thrive?
5. Besides the rapid exchange of goods during the Pax Romana,
what else do you think was being exchanged while so many
diverse people interacted?
Rise to Power
The man who would become one of Rome’s greatest leaders had an unpromising start in
life. Despite prophesies of future greatness , Augustus was a sickly child in a family with few
connections. His father died when Augustus was four. His prospects were bleak: Rome was
dangerous, engulfed by civil war between power-hungry factions. One of these was led by his
great-uncle, Julius Caesar. Then Augustus got a lucky break. In 46 BC, Caesar won the civil
war and was named dictator of Rome. To secure his position, he needed an heir. With no son of
his own, he adopted Augustus. This was a fantastic opportunity for a young man from
nowhere. Almost at once, however, Caesar was murdered. Augustus was just 19, but
immediately threw himself into the backstabbing world of Roman politics. He formed a
strategic alliance with Marc Antony, a successful and ambitious general. Over the next few
years, they defeated their enemies in Rome and chased the survivors to Greece, where they
finished them off in two of the bloodiest battles in Roman history. The killing over, the empire
was theirs and they divided the spoils. Augustus kept Rome, while Antony took Egypt. Later
their alliance would fall apart and through war Augustus would add Egypt to the Roman
Empire.
Treatment of People
To distract and control the masses of Romans, the government provided free games, races,
mock battles, and gladiator contests. By C.E. 250, there were 150 holidays a year. On these
days of celebration, the Coliseum, a huge arena that could hold 50,000, would fill with the rich
and poor alike. The spectacles they watched combined bravery and cruelty, honor and violence.
In the animal shows, wild creature brought from distant land, such as tigers, lions, and bears,
fought to death. In other contests, gladiators engaged in combat with animals or with each
other, often until one of them was killed.
Pax Romana
From 30 B.C. until A.D. 180 Rome enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity. This time period
is referred to by historians as the Pax Romana, or Roman Peace.
This 200 year period of peace and stability allowed the Roman Empire to achieve new heights
in technology, agriculture, science, and the arts. The Roman Empire was a very civilized place
during this time, and life was generally comfortable, and good. Augustus made sure the lands
throughout the empire were well run and taxes were fair. Augustus built massive roads and
bridges, government buildings, and huge public baths. He said, “I left Rome a city of marble,
though I found it a city of bricks.”
Augustus also created a standing army. The powerful, professionally trained forces were
divided into large units called legions. Each legion would have as many as 6,000 soldiers. One
mission August used his army for was a vigorous campaign of expansion designed to make
Rome safe from the 'barbarians' living just outside of the Empire.
Expanding the Empire
Augustus vision and power expanded the Roman Empire to become far more than a collection
of countries. Instead, it was a diverse society and enormous marketplace in which people across
Europe, north Africa and the Middle East could trade and travel under Rome’s protection.
Trade increased dramatically under Augustus’ rule due to peace throughout the Empire known
as the Pax Romana (“Roman Peace). Rome imported (brought in) bricks, marble, granite and
wood for great building projects. They also imported luxury items such as amber from the
north and silk from China (due to the Silk Road). Many shopkeepers grew rich during the Pax
Romana as increased trade meant more business for Romans. There were many factors that led
to the expansion of trade during the Pax Romana. Rome roads made of stone, concrete, and
sand were technological marvels that connected all parts of the Empire and made travel and
trade much easier. Trade also was aided because during this period the same coins were used
all over the empire (no exchange rate!), there were no tariffs (taxes) on goods that were brought
into the country and the Mediterranean Sea was cleared of pirates.
Readings From:
http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/augustus.html
McDougal Littell’s World History: Patterns of Interaction
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/augustus.shtml
http://www.mrdowling.com/702-augustus.html