Captivating History - Roman Emperors: A Captivating Guide to Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, Constantine the Great, and Justinian I

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Part 1: Augustus

A Captivating Guide to the First Emperor of Rome and How He Ruled the Roman Empire

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Introduction

Y oung men, hear an old man to whom old men hearkened when he was young. (Augustus, reported by Suetonius)

The life of Augustus is historically important because his leadership marked out a new era in the story of the Roman world, an era that would see the expansion of the Roman Empire across the Mediterranean and beyond. However, the influence of the Roman Empire extended much farther than its territory and had a profound effect on the development of Western culture.

Moreover, the stories and legends that emanate from the Roman world have become part of the cultural consciousness of the Western world today. Our fascination with the Roman world is boundless; there are thousands of movies, books, plays, and video games that are inspired by ancient Rome. The stories of the lives of great Romans have, in turn, become stories and ideas that have been taken up by everyone from Shakespeare to the Star Wars franchise.

While the language, culture, and societal norms of Roman life were so different from those we know today, to the point that it can be difficult to relate to what life would have been like, many of the issues that affected Rome are strikingly similar to those that affect our modern societies. We may not understand the technicalities of the legislative tactics of the Roman Senate or the religious aspects of their governmental system, but we can certainly relate to the idea of big political personalities struggling for power against a background of propaganda.

It helps to remember that Roman citizens essentially wanted the same things that any citizen wants: security, prosperity, and stability. Augustus offered these things to people who had experienced lawlessness, civil unrest, and political dysfunction. However, the Roman peopleand the governmentwere extremely suspicious of powerful individuals. In fact, the Roman Republic that Augustus was born into was designed to prevent any individual from amassing great power.

What is absolutely fascinating about the story of Augustus is the way that he masterminded his ascent to power by leading people to believe that power was the last thing he wanted, so that as a leader, he was willingly acceptedand often demandedby the people. At the same time, he also proved indispensable to the Senate, whose job it was to check his power.

Chapter 1 Rome

T he history of Rome can be roughly divided into three distinct time periods: The Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. To understand the pivotal role that Augustus played in the shaping of the Roman Empire, first, we have to understand a little of the history of Rome. By looking at the world that Augustus was born into, we can better understand how his life changed the course of historynot just for Rome, but for the wider world.