5.+1+CE+to+50+CE

=**Caesar Augustus **=

Caesar Augustus was the ruler of Rome from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D. He was the first Roman Emperor. His birth name was Gaius Octavius, which he later changed to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, however in modern times he is called Octavian. In 27 B.C. the Roman Senate added the title “Augustus”, meaning divine or majestic, to his adopted name.

In his will, Julius Caesar named Octavian his adopted son and heir to the throne. Even though Octavian was only 18, he set out to claim his inheritance. In his rise to power, Octavian made an alliance with Marc Antony and General Marcus Lepidus. This alliance was known as the Second Triumvirate. After several years of being allies, Octavian and Antony turned on each other because of Marc Antony’s newly formed political alliance with Cleopatra queen of Egypt. Octavian defeated both Marc Antony and Cleopatra and became the absolute power in Rome.

Under Octavian’s rule, there were many changes that were brought to every aspect of Roman life. There was lasting peace and prosperity to the Greco- Roman World. Octavian also outlying imperial provinces were secured, built roads and other public works, and also fostered the arts. In addition to these changes Octavian established Pax Roma, which is a peace imposed by a powerful state on a weaker state. Octavian also took steps to rectify Roman Morality. Octavian even exiled his own daughter for adultery to show that no one should be exempt from the law. Octavian Died in 14 A.D. When he died the Roman Empire stretched from Iberia and Gaul to Egypt.



=**Caligula **=

Caligula (Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus) was born in 12 A.D., and died in 41 A.D. Caligula was the ruler of Rome from 37 A.D. to 41 A.D. Caligula was named heir to the throne after the death of his great uncle Tiberius. After becoming the ruler of Rome, Caligula adopted his cousin, Tiberius Gemellus, and made Tiberius Gemellus as his heir. Caligula also allowed the political exiles that had been banished during the regime of his predecessors to come back.

Seven months into his reign, Caligula suffered from a severe illness. He began to exhibit mental instability. He began to engage in acts of tyranny and cruelty. His behavior is thought to have been the result schizophrenia or some other mental disease. Caligula restored treason trials, executed former supporters, and exhorted money from the citizens of Rome. Because of his reckless spending habit, Caligula revived treason trials so he could confiscate all of the property of the people who were convicted. Later on Caligula ended up murdering Tiberius Gemellus.

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=**Daily Life **= = =

Entertainment was a very important part of Roman daily life, and they found many different ways to fulfill this need.

Along with wrestling and other athletics, Roman circuses mainly involved a number of chariot races. Charioteers, as they were called, wore blue, green, red, or white during the race. These were the colors of the four “chariot facing factions.” Winners could become rich and famous, which was a good thing since chariot racing was a very expensive sport. Another source of entertainment for the Romans was any show that took place in an Amphitheater. Gladiators, who were usually criminals, slaves, or sometimes volunteers, would sign up to do shows. During a battle a gladiator would use things like swords, shields, tridents, daggers, nets, visors, helmets, or scimitars, which are swords with large, curved blades. Women and dwarves were also sometimes used in the games. Battles could be between two men, or a man and a wild animal and could take place on foot or on horseback. The theatres of Rome consisted of a stage and a semicircle-shaped area in front of the stage where a chorus or orchestra would be located. All actors were male, usually slaves. Characters in a Roman play were usually a rich man, a king, a soldier, a slave, a young man, and a young woman. A single actor could play more than one part. Actors would wear different masks in order to portray different emotions. Wigs of differing colors would also be worn; depending on which character an actor was playing. A gray wig was worn when playing old men, and black for young men. A red wig was worn when playing the slave. The young man would also wear bright clothing, while the old man would wear white. Admission to these plays was free, but at first women were not permitted to see comedies, only tragedies.

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=**Roman Funerals **=

When a person of ancient Rome died, the first thing that their relatives would do is close the dead person’s eyes. As they closed the eyes, they would call out the name of the deceased one. After the eyes were closed, the body was washed and a coin was placed in their mouth. This coin was used as a payment to the Roman god Charon, the ferryman of the underworld. The body was then put on display. The amount of time that the body was displayed depended on the person’s social status. People of the upper class could be on display for as long as a week, whereas someone who a member of the lower class would only be displayed for a day.

After the display of the body came the funeral procession. A funeral in Rome was usually at night. This was so that they could avoid big gatherings, large crowds, and “excessive mourning.” It was believed that these things could lead to unrest, especially when mourning major political figures. A parade would be led by musicians. Mourners and family members would follow, carrying masks of wax resembling other dead members of their family. Outside of the town, a fire used for the sole purpose of cremation was built. This was done outside of the city because burying anyone within city limits was forbidden. A eulogy was given while the pyre, or cremation fire, was set aflame. When the fire was put out, a member of the deceased’s family, most often their mother or wife, put the ashes into an urn.

To make sure that they received a proper burial, many Romans were a part of a //collegia//, or a funeral society. In order to stay a part of the collegia, the people had to pay monthly dues. These dues covered funeral costs. Member of the collegia were guaranteed a spot in a large underground vault, called a columbarium. The person’s remains were placed in the columbaria in a spot that often had a memorial plaque or portrait sculpture to mark who’s was who’s. The columbaria was important for the Roman’s passage into the afterlife, since they believed this to be very important. The collegia was also important because it allowed both the upper and lower classes to get to the underworld. A few emperors even provided dues for the extremely poor. = = = = = =

=**The Birth of Jesus **=

The Virgin Mary of Galilee was engaged to a Jewish carpenter named Joseph. Mary was told that through the power of the Holy Spirit, she would conceive a son. When she would give birth to this child, she was to name him Jesus. With Mary being a virgin, she questioned this, but when she thought about it, she trusted what the angel had said was true. Since the baby that Mary was carrying was obviously not Joseph’s, Joseph had every right to divorce Mary. Instead, Joseph decided to stay with Mary and take care of her. One night, Joseph had a dream, and an angel told him that taking Mary to be his wife was God’s will. So when Joseph woke up from his dream, he listened to what the angel had said, and took Mary to be his wife.

Now when Mary was getting close to having birth, Caesar Augustus decreed that a census should be taken. Every person had to go to his or her own town to register. So Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem. When they got to Bethlehem, the inn was too crowded, so they ended up staying in a stable, where Mary conceived her baby. They named him Jesus. He was to be the Savior of the world.

An angel of the Lord appeared to some shepherds who were tending to their flock and the angel told them of the good news that the Savior had been born in Bethlehem. So the shepherds decided to make the trek to Bethlehem and see Jesus. When they got to Bethlehem, they found Mary and Joseph and the baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger. So when they left, they spread the wonderful news of the Savior of the world being born. Some Magi saw a star in the east, and they new it signified the birth of the Savior. King Herod had told the Magi to go and find the babe and when they got back, Herod was going to go and see this child, so he could worship him. Herod’s real plot was to kill Jesus. So the Magi went and found the babe and they brought him gold, incense, and myrrh. When the Magi left, they didn’t go back to Herod, because they were told not to in a dream. The historical event of the birth of Jesus affected the whole world. Another monotheistic religion, also the biggest, was brought into a world of polytheism and this created controversy.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

Jesus was crucified in year 33 AD. Claiming himself as the King of the Jews, Jesus was forced to stand trial before Pontius Pilate, Sanhedrin, and Herod. He was then handed over to be crucified.

Jesus was mocked by getting beaten and spat at Romans. The Romans also put a purple robe, symbolizing royalty, and a crown of thorns on his head. Jesus was then forced to carry his own cross to the place to where he was getting crucified, Golgotha. When they had gotten to Golgotha, Jesus was stripped of his robe. His hand and feet were nailed on the cross, and he was hung between two other thieves.

Jesus hung on the cross for 6 hours, until the 9th hour, he died. The soldiers put a sign above his head on the cross that said “King of the Jews” and Jesus’ garments were divided and they cast lots for his robe. After Jesus had died, the soldiers pierced his side with a spear to make sure he was dead. Jesus was taken of the cross by Joseph of Arimathea and was buried in a rock tomb.