Julio-Espasian Dynasty

But even during such great times, trouble is never far behind. Marcus Aurelius was the last emperor of such times and his death marks the beginning of the end of the Pax Romana. The Roman Empire had trouble keeping the economy strong due largely to slow means of communication and transportation and was also deteriorating due to cultural stagnation and transformation. Soon after, the Roman Empire was plunged into military anarchy, raided by Germanic tribes, and burdened by economic dislocations.

In 27 BCE, Octavian appointed himself as the first Roman Emperor. After being a republic for approximately 700 years, Rome was now an empire. The Roman Empire grew to be one of the greatest empires in history, conquering the majority of Europe, the Asia Minor, and much of North Africa. Rome went through a time of peace called Pax Roma. During Pax Roma many contributions were made such as arts and architecture. The Roman Empire declined because of its weakened military. The military began to weaken due to laziness, the land was easy to invade, and there we many different leaders throughout the empire.

To begin, Titus was born in 39 A.D. His father, Vespasian, was a high-ranking military official at the time. Titus’ early life consisted of serving in his father’s legion. After the evil emperor Nero died, Vespasian was anointed emperor of Rome. Vespasian then gave Titus charge of the Jewish war and his legion. Titus successfully captured and destroyed Jerusalem in September of A.D. 70. To commemorate Titus’ glorious victory, an arch was built, which is now known as the Arch of Titus. After that victory, Titus was made Praetorian Guard by his father and they became close in ranks, but Vespasian avoided putting Titus on an equal rank as him. From then until the end of Vespasian’s reign, they worked closely and peacefully. The early life of Titus included serving and commanding under his father’s legions and serving as a Praetorian Guard.

Chau’s thesis that the rise and fall of empires was due to tolerance, inclusion, difference, and diversity is shown to be true of the Roman Empire because of the way that tolerance allowed and caused the empire to rise, enter its golden age, and fall. The Roman Empire was a “hyperpower” that lasted from 44 BCE to 476 CE. The empire contained Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe, along with North Africa; thus, there was an abundance of culture from many different conquered groups. Romans wanted to make these conquered nations provinces of Rome. The Roman Empire began (and the Roman Republic ended) with the assassination of Julius Caesar, who wanted to be a dictator. No longer a republic, the lands already ruled by Rome became part of an empire. The government became centralized with a single ruler, the emperor. However, even before the empire, during the Republic, there was also the similar feeling of wanting to conquer other nations was there.

The Julio-Claudian dynasty ran strong before and after the birth of Agrippina. She was born into power in 15 AD. She was a direct descendant of respected Augustus and was the daughter of the most popular couple in Rome, Germanicus and Agrippina

The Roman Empire began when Julius Caesar became one of the leaders to reign and conquer Rome. Rome was commonly referred to as “the eternal city.” Rome had a total of 19 emperors from 235 to 285 CE. Those 19 emperors might have caused the fall of Rome to happen. The decline of Rome, or the “fall” of Rome, was due to economic problems, Roman emperors, and natural disasters and disease.

Nero, who took the throne after his mother poisoned Claudius, the current emperor, ruled from 54 to 68 AD. At first, Nero was the picture-perfect emperor. He lowered taxes, allowed more freedom to the Senate, granted permission to slaves who wanted to sue their unfair owners, and rid Rome of capital punishment. Eventually, Nero

Octavian enabled the long, nonviolent time of the Pax Romana, (Latin for Roman peace) by changing Rome from a frail, collapsing republican government to a powerful empire. He is known as the first, and one of the greatest, Roman Emperors ever. Octavian was born on September 23, 63 BC, and died in 14 AD. Born with the name Gaius Octavius Thurinus, he was adopted posthumously by his great-uncle Gaius Julius Caesar via his will, and then was named Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. This happened in 44 BC when his great uncle, Julius Caesar, was assassinated by a group of conspirators. Additionally, he received the name “Augustus” a term meaning “the revered one” from the Roman Senate in 27 BC. Because of the various names he had, it is

Considering that during the half-century preceding Diocletian 's ascension the empire had been in a nearly constant state of civil war, it is remarkable that the Tetrarchy did not immediately fall apart due to the greed of any of the four emperors. In 305, Diocletian retired and Maximian was persuaded to do the same. The two Caesars became the senior emperors as designed, but when it came time to choose new Caesars, the military and Senate intervened and brought forward their own candidates.

The western Roman Empire came to an end in the latepeter the great's rule was notable for his effort to

	After nineteen years of ruling Rome, Marcus Aurelius died on March 17, 180 in Vindobona, which is currently Vienna. He died of a plague while in the middle of yet another war to defend the territory of Rome. Aurelius was succeeded by his son, Commodus, who was the polar opposite of his father. Commodus was a corrupt and evil ruler. Apparently, his father was never aware of this fact, for Commodus fooled him into believing they were of the same mind when it came to ruling. Commodus was the first of the bad emperors to Aurelius’ last of the good emperors. This lack of an able ruler cemented the descent of the Roman empire.

Emperor Nero, infamously known as one of the most malevolent, oppressive, and tyrannical leader throughout history, was the last ruler of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. He was born outside Rome in Antium and his mother married his great uncle, Emperor Claudius, in order for her son to be the next Emperor of Rome. It wasn’t apparent that her son was to become one of the most feared and cruel leaders in Roman history from 54 CE to 68 CE. By examining his achievements and failures as an emperor, his influences and changes over the entire economic, political and social spectrum are revealed.

Vespasian's rule started in 69 but not much is known about it. Once he arrived in Rome he left immediately on a campaign to promote his dynasty and that's when he visited Egypt and many other countries. He spent a lot of

Throughout the Julio-Claudian Dynasty ,the Praetorian Guard remained a metaphorical 'Big Brother', always watching and influencing not only the decisions of the Emperors but that of their successors as well. When the Praetorian Guard decided to turn against the Emperors they swore to protect, they heavily influenced the superseding succession of the Emperors during the Year of Four Emperors. It is quite clear that the Praetorian Guard had an astounding influence over the politics and military of the Roman Empire, as seen through the events of AD 69. In AD 69, the Year of the Four Emperors, the Praetorian Guard took almost full control of the Roman Emperors.

His murder in AD 192 was followed by a civil war by rivals to the throne. A series of rulers under what was known as `The Severan Dynasty' ensued. Lucian Septimius Severus who became emperor in AD 193 severely weakened the imperial defenses when he disbanded the Praetorian Guard and replaced them with his own troops. While Rome remained a large empire there was a complete lack of constitution. After Septimus Severus all power derived from the army, which led to corruption in a quest for power. Between 235 and 284 there was a series of insane emperors who were frequently assassinated.