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Name _____________________________________ Period # _____
Rise to Power
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.
CAESAR
AUGUSTUS
(63 BCE –
14 CE)
After their victory Antony took ________ and
Augustus took __________. When their
friendship fell apart, ___________ defeated
_________ __________ and made Egypt part
of the Roman Empire.
Pax Romana
The period of peace and prosperity
in the Roman Empire that lasted
from 30 BCE to 180 BCE is known
as the ________ ___________.
This peace helped Rome reach new
heights in ___________
______________ _____________
and the _________. Augustus built
massive _________ and
___________. He also created an
________ that protected Rome from
invasion by ___________ living
outside their 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 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.
This made sure the people of the
Roman Empire were too busy
celebrating to think of reasons to be
unhappy with Augustus!
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?
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 & Lifestyle
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 BCE, 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.
Augustus was the most powerful ruler of the mightiest empire in the ancient
world. Yet, amid the pomp of Rome, he lived a simple and frugal life. His home
was modest by Roman standards. His favorite meal consisted of coarse bread, a
few sardines, and a piece of cheese – the usual food of a common laborer.
Treatment of People
To distract and control the masses of Romans, the government provided free
games, races, mock battles, and gladiator contests. By 250 CE, there were 150
holidays a year. On these days of celebration, the Coliseum, a huge arena that
could hold 70,000, would fill with rich and poor alike. The spectacles they
watched combined bravery and cruelty, honor and violence. In the animal shows,
wild creatures brought from distant lands, such as tigers, lions, and bears, fought to
the 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 BCE until 180 CE Rome enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity.
This 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 Augustus 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. Roman 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 good that
were brought into the country and the Mediterranean Sea was cleared of pirates.