Augustus
and the Pax
Romana
Caesar Augustus, The Vatican Museums, Rome
Review: After Julius Caesar’s
assassination, who comprised the second
triumvirate?
Lepidus, Marc Antony and Octavian (later
known as Caesar Augustus)
Why was there a civil war between
Octavian’s forces and Marc Antony’s forces?
Octavian was opposed to Marc Antony’s
alliance/relationship with Cleopatra. Both sought
to control Rome.
Caesar Augustus
•Octavian’s armies and Antony’s forces fought at
the Battle of Actium in 31, B.C.E. where
Octavian’s army crushed Antony’s forces.
•Octavian then became the “Imperator” or
Caesar Augustus, Emperor of Rome
•Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide in
Egypt a year later.
Republic or Empire?
Early on, Augustus sought to
restore the Roman Republic by
giving some power back to the
Senators.
The senate, in return, gave
Augustus great control of
Rome, naming him “Imperator”
or Emperor.
Augustus had authority to
appoint governors in Rome’s
provinces which previously had
been controlled by Senators.
“Senatus Populusque Romanus”
The Senate and People of Rome
Augustus was Rome’s first Emperor and he was a good
one. The Pax Romana or “Roman Peace” begins with him.
His accomplishments:
1. Expansion of the empire in Asia Minor, Southwest
Asia and Europe (but not across the Danube River)
His only military defeat would be here by Germanic
tribes.
2. Stability of the three social classes, senatorial,
equestrian and lower classes. There was mobility for
some.
3. Developed a civil service – a way of hiring government
workers based on education and experience. He made
jobs available to the equestrian class.
4. Established rule by law – laws governed the people not
arbitrary decisions.
Augustus’ Achievements - continued
5. Used a uniform money
system which expanded
trade.
6. Made the Roman roads
safe for travel throughout
the empire which increased
trade.
7. Emphasized the
importance of family. Paterfamilias - Ex. Julia
The Pax Romana was a 207 year period in
which Rome experienced Peace, Prosperity
and Stability
POLITICAL
•Augustus chose
his successor –
his stepson
•Created a Civil
Service
IMPACT
Some peaceful transition
of power between
emperors—but not
always.
Stability in government,
even when emperors
were unstable.
Political Impact
Continued
•Developed a
uniform rule of law
•Expanded territory into
Greece, Southwest
Asia and north including
Britain
Romans, rich and poor alike,
were subject to the law. No
one was above the law.
Principle of innocence until
proven guilty was
established.
Rome spread its influence
and culture throughout the
Mediterranean, Southwest
Asia, Israel, Egypt, and
Europe.
Pax Romana
Economic Impact
•Uniform money system
•Safe travel on Roman roads
Expanded
Trade- Luxury
goods imported
into Rome – Gold
coins leaving
the empire
Promoted prosperity and stability
Pax Romana
Social Impact
1. Returned
stability to
social
classes
2. Family
becomes
very
important
-Poor not sliding further
into poverty
-Social unrest minimal
-Bread and Circus kept
the poor masses happy
Romans identified
themselves by the
male head of household
--paterfamilias. Girls
were named after their
fathers – ex. Julia, Olivia.
The Emperors
After Augustus, there were five “Good”
Emperors in the Pax Romana period.
Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and
Marcus Aurelius
And then there were the bad
emperors:
Tiberius, Caligula, Nero
Rome’s civil servants
kept the government
operating smoothly
despite crazy emperors.
By the third century, CE,
the Pax Romana had ended
and the empire had begun
to crumble.