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How did augustus influence roman society
Augustus and the modern world
Augustus and the modern world
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In 27 BCE (Before Common Era) the Roman Empire was entering its golden age, “The Pax Romana.” During the Pax Romana, the citizens of all Roman cities enjoyed free food and entertainment along with access to all of the Roman amenities such as bathhouses, roads, and mail service. However in 180 CE (Common Era) the Roman empire took a turn for the worse and eventually the last empire fell in 476 CE. The once powerful Roman Empire was in shambles. So what happened to the empire?
WT Notebook Journal 2 During the period of the Early Empire, Roman expansion and change marked the end of the Roman Republic. Growth changed the ideal of the republic and new problems surfaced within Rome itself. Increase power in the Senate which led to a less democratic society and increase military power for the Greeks as well as civil wars between Rome and the provinces were some of the political changes that were prompted by Roman expansion. Socio-economical changes like high taxes due to the wars and movement towards cities, increase unemployment, and income disparity caused by the dispute between patricians and the plebeian were promoted by Roman expansion.
The Roman empire was based on slavery: slavery on a massive scale. Therefore The success and spoils of Roman wars meant that slaves were everywhere putting regular Roman citizens out of work. This solution was not ideal but no rich Romans (patricians) seemed willing to compromise and give up their slaves. Attempts were made to base taxes on the numbers of slaves owned but the rich simply freed their slaves to avoid taxation and then added on still to the numbers of unemployed.
Wallace-Hadrill makes the argument that the seat of Augustus’s empire, the Imperial home on the Palatine Hill, was where the sovereignty of the emperor would become the most effective. When Augustus garnered control of the Roman Empire, the aristocracy of Rome—both the friends and enemies of the emperor-- flocked to his side in hopes of joining his Imperial court. Each courtier had a varying degree of intimacy with Augustus; the closer one was to him, the more of his borrowed authority they could access. Successful courtiers were masters of manipulation who could maneuver through positions and relationships to ingratiate themselves to the court and to the emperor. In the Imperial court, being close to the emperor and being powerful were synonymous.
There were many different causes for the fall of the Roman empire, not just one. The Roman Empire was very strong, but eventually broke down over time for a multitude of reasons. Most of those reasons had to do with changes in Rome’s identity. Some of these changes in Rome’s identity led to the fall of Rome because they were so sudden; only portions of the Roman population were prepared for the change. Other times, citizens got into arguments because they were, in a way, too prepared.
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, better known as the ‘Gracchi Brothers’ were a pair of tribunes descending from the plebs from the 2nd century BCE who sought to introduce land reforms and other legislations that aligned with their populist views/ideas. It can be said that the career of the two brothers was marked by murder, riots and outright manipulation of the power they were granted which completely altered the state of Roman politics- aiding in the breakdown of the Roman Republic. The legislation they sought to pass essentially redistributed major aristocratic land ownership among the commoners such as the urban poor and veterans. After achieving little success during the early stages of the reforms, both were assassinated by enemy parties.
The civilization of ancient Rome was one time the mightiest on the planet. Yet it, like any other civilization, began as one small settlement. The Roman Empire suffered numerous complications in its final years. The late Roman empire was frequently invaded by several barbarian groups, most notably the Huns and Vandals.
Intro Best: Augustus, Trajan, Hadrian Augustus would be among the best Roman emperors, if not the best. Under his rule, he turned Rome a great empire. Prior to his ascension as emperor in 27, the Roman Republic had been plagued by civil wars and other problems and the Republic began to crumble.
The height of Rome began in 118 CE because it was the largest in size. It encompassed the Mediterranean Sea. Rome once had a magnificent army, and the Romans earned glory around the world. Roman peace was a result of the Pax Romana. Both military and political victories were achieved.
The Roman Empire was an era that historians found very interesting as it showed the necessities a community needs and the problems that could lead to the collapse of one. It was a civilization that advanced and spread the major religion Christianity. So when the Roman empire divided, and the Western side started to crumble what could have happened to the Western side that caused it to fall apart? The primary causes for Rome’s fall are having corruption within the government, a poor economic state, and a weak military.
Christianity, Buddhism and Muslim religions all place similar restrictions on their ruler’s reinforcement of power and the ruler’s limitations on their subject. Religion sets the standards for how rulers spread their power, their religion and affects the way they control their subjects. Some religions go as limiting their subject personal relationships and criticizing their social economic levels. Christianity emerged during the Roman time period where there was no separation of the church and state. Priest were state officials who performed that performed sacrifices to please gods and the priest urged people to be celibate as he criticized sex outside of marriage.
This showed the Roman people that Augustus was not about to enter them into a war for his own personal gains. It also allowed him to be seen as a peacemaker instead of a warmonger and that was vitally important to the Romans since they had suffered through civil war for the last seventy years. The people would remember Augustus as a man who protected their interests and looked out for them instead of just using them as fodder to attain more glory. This was precisely what Augustus wanted because the more people praised him for not chasing glory he actually gained more personal glory. Augustus found a way to mask his glory seeking behind other ideals and motivations and this is something that can be seen again several centuries later during the
The fall of Rome, without any doubt, was due to its governmental authoritarian style and vicious treatment of its people. According to Schaeffer (2005), “The Greeks and later the Romans also tried to build a society upon their Gods” (p. 21). Unfortunately, with these gods being a mere higher extension of themselves, and people witnessing the malice in them, it became difficult for the people to accept them as something of infinite value or goodness. Consequently, Rome’s downfall began with a crippled worldly predisposition, the lack of wisdom, and its coldhearted leaders that were egotistical, self-absorbed, and lacking the ability to see a grander world view that was needed to bring civilization to a progressive state.
He was given the name Augustus by the Roman senate and he used many outlets of propaganda during his reign. These outlets ranged from minor details found on construction projects, such as the symbol of fasces on the theater of Marcellus, to large monuments and works of art depicting Augustus’ various strengths a leader. One such work is a well-known Augustan monument called the Ara Pacis, or the altar of Augustan peace. The altar was dedicated to Pax, the Roman goddess of Peace, and was commissioned by the senate to honor Augustus’ return to Rome after three years abroad. The “Lupercal Panel” depicting the moment when Romulus and Remus are discovered by the Shepherd is considered to be a reminder of Augustus’ deified heritage.
During the reign of Augustus, peace was finally established throughout the Roman empire. After years and years of consistent wars, the empire was finally quiet, and the people were grateful to Augustus for bringing about such peaceful times. To the people, Augustus was a man who needed to be honored for his genius, and for his ability to help the Roman Empire prosper once again. Augustus, too, saw himself as someone who's comprehensive list of accomplishments needed to be remembered and documented for future generations to come, and with that idea came the Res Gestae. The Res Gestae Divi Augusti is an account of all the things Augustus was able to carry out during his reign as emperor in terms of military prowess, leadership abilities, and