Overview of History (49BCE–69CE)
- The "Imperatorial" Period (49–31 BCE)
- Caesar and Pompey
- What was the reason for the civil war between Caesar and Pompey?
- Where & When did it start?
- What are the important reforms of Caesar?
- What trend did he start that Octavian continued?
- Whom did Caesar name as his heir and adopted in his will? (trend here?)
- The Second Triumvirate
- Who were the members of the second triumvirate?
- How did they split up the Roman world?
- What were the tasks in front of them?
- Where and when did Octavian defeat Antony?
- What happened in the end to Antony and Cleopatra?
- The Augustan Age (31 BCE–14 CE)
- The Political Reforms of Augustus
- What are the key titles/powers that Octavian/Augustus used?
- What did he offer to do on Jan 13, 27 B.C. and what was the Senate's response three days later?
- What role/powers did the Senate have in the new government?
- What role/powers did governors have in their provinces?
- How were governors picked and why was there a difference in the selection process?
- How was Egypt treated differently that other Roman territories?
- Whom did Augustus turn to to provide "new blood" into the ruling class?
- The Religious and Social Reforms of Augustus
- What was the nature of Augusus' religious reforms inside of Rome? outside of Rome?
- What are some of the ways that Augustus tried to improve the moral climate of Rome?
- Were any of his social reforms successful?
- Augustan Art and Architecture
- What are some of Caesar's building projects in Rome that Augustus completed?
- What are some of the new building projects of Augustus in Rome?
- How Augustus used symbolism on his art & architecture to promote his programs & ideals?
- the Fora,
- the Horologium
- the Ara Pacis,
- the Prima Porta statue,
- coinage
- What are two of ways that Augustus promoted his programs in the provinces via art (i.e. what did he use for "sound bytes")?
- The Early Empire (13–69 CE)
- Imperial Succession:
- key requirements for succession;
- what happened to bad emperors
- Determination of Policy:
- role of senate,
- amici,
- emperor
- Machinery of governance:
- at local level
- at provincial level
- at Rome
- emperor's staff
- Army:
- size (see Augustan lecture)
- terms of service: length, pay, restrictions
- retirement: bonus, position in society
- duties of service: peacetime; wartime
Families
- Key terms: familia, paterfamilias, patria potestas
- What were relations between parents and children like? Why sometimes distance between mothers and children? How did the lower life expectancy possibly affect these?
- What were the virtues of an ideal mother?
- What were some of the ways to limit family size? Effective?
- What were some of the ways Augustus tried to increase family size? Successful?
- How were children expected to behave? Who often took care of them? Effects of this?
- How did the law and public opinion change about infanticide and orphans
- Know some of the sources of information: inscriptions, Juvenal, Pliny the Younger
Marriage
- Who picked the marriage partners?
- Typical age for first marriage for girls? Boys?
- What is the dowry?
- What is the purpose of marriage?
- How could husbands treat their wives? Could/did wives ever stand up for themselves?
- What were the virtues of an ideal wife?
- When were "affairs" punishable (if caught) or not? Specifics?
- What was involved in divorce--reasons, dowry, children? How did Augustus change this?
Women in the Roman World
- Childhood: What was it like? What were the virtues of the ideal daughter?
- What were the virtues of the ideal "woman"?
- What were the vices of the "unacceptable" woman?
- What did they consider as the causes, symptoms, and treatment of hysteria
- What freedoms did women have?
- What occupations could they engage in?
- What were the effectiveness and or dangers of cosmetics & hair dyes, who used, etc.?
Possible Essay Questions
- Social: In English speaking countries from the 1300's until just recently, when two people got married the vow the wife took often contained the word obey (or its equivalent). Using solely the evidence in Shelton, Chapters II, III, and XIII, determine and demonstrate to what extent Roman women actually obeyed their husbands. In your conclusion comment on how like or unlike Roman women are to modern American women in this respect. As usual, make sure you give specific concrete examples to back up your statements and that you explicitly comment on the possible biases in the evidence you present.
- Social: From an evaluation of the evidence we have examined in Shelton, Chapters II, III, and XIII, develop a reasoned conclusion about the extent to which husbands loved (in our sense of the word) their wives. Make sure you consider all the evidence, both that which may agree with your conclusion and that which may not.
- Politics: Even though it's a bit early in his presidency, nonetheless, compare and contrast President Trump and Augustus with respect to three of the following: foreign policy, domestic policy, emphasis on morals and morality, and use of the media. Just as for Augustus, when discussing President Trump, make sure you give specific examples to illustrate the points you are making. For Augustus, use class notes, the readings we have covered in this unit, and a pdf of a web site on Augustan art & architecture in Canvas entitled "Augustus-Images of Power".
- Note: When you give your evidence, make sure you mention where your evidence is coming from, e.g. inscriptions, letters, laws, satire, history, poetry, graffiti, sculpture, paintings, coins, ...
