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Ancient Rome
The Roman Empire
(Continued)
Key Terms
• Augustus
• Pax Romana
Rise of the Empire
• Following Caesar’s
death, another civil
war broke out
• Three of Caesar’s
supporters worked
together to get rid of
the senate that killed
him
Second Triumvirate
• Octavian was the 18-year
old grandnephew and
adopted son of Caesar
• Mark Antony was an
experienced general who
was friends with Caesar
• Lepidus who was a
powerful politician
• Took control of Rome and
ruled for 10 years
Triumvirate Falls Apart
• Violence and jealousy
• Octavian forced Lepidus to
retire
• Antony met Cleopatra while
guiding troops to fight in
Anatolia
• Antony fell in love and
followed her to Egypt
• Octavian accused him of
trying to rule Rome from
Egypt and civil war broke out
Octavian Defeats Antony
• Octavian’s forces
defeated Antony’s and
Cleopatra’s joined
forces in the naval
battle of Actium in 31
B.C.
• Antony and Cleopatra
later committed suicide
Augustus
• Octavian returned to Rome
and became the
unchallenged ruler of Rome
• The Senate gave him the
title of consul and dictator
for life
• He changed his name to
Augustus which meant
“chosen one” and became
the first Roman emperor
• Rome was now ruled by
one man
Pax Romana
• Rome was at peak of it’s
power from 27 B.C.
(beginning of Augustus’
rule) to A.D. 180
• Empire at peace, except
for fighting with tribes
near Roman Empire’s
borders
• Time period known as
Pax Romana, which
means “Roman peace”
Government
• Empire had population
of 60 to 80 million
people, with about 1
million in the city of
Rome
• Augustus stabilized the
frontier, glorified Rome
with spectacular
buildings, and created a
long lasting government
Civil Servants
• Set up by Augustus
• Paid workers to manage
the tasks of government
- examples are grain
supply, collect taxes, and
the postal system
• Senate still functional
• Civil servants, made up of
plebeians and former
slaves administered the
empire
Agriculture and Trade
• Agriculture was most
important industry
• About 90% of people
were farmers
• Most Romans survived
on produce from local
area
• Additional food and
luxury items for the rich
were obtained by trade
Trade
• Silver coins called
denarius was used as
money
• Common money made
trade easier in the
different parts of the
empire
Trade Networks
• Ships traveled the
Mediterranean Sea to trade
with Roman controlled cities
on the coasts
• Rome also traded with India
and China
• A network of roads
connected Rome to inland
parts of the empire
• Roads initially built for
military, but used for trade
and spread of Roman culture
Reflection
• Describe how Caesar Augustus changed Rome
into a peaceful and prosperous empire.