Early Empire Culture

Question 1

Tiberius

Answer 1

succeeded Augustus ( his stepson), executed Sejanus
Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Question 2

Sejanus

Answer 2

corrupt head of Praetorian Guard, tried to eliminate other members of the Julio-Claudian family and take control through marrying Tiberius’ niece, executed by Tiberius when he found out about plot
Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Question 3

Caligula

Answer 3

succeeded uncle Tiberius
real name was Gaius–> when he was young his father’s soldiers made him their mascot and dressed him up in soldier suit and boots, Caligula means little boot
made a good first impression, but not before long he started to show bad temper, arrogance, irrational fear of ploys against him
ended up in Tiberius’ refuge on Island of Capri
assasinated in 41 AD bc she was unfit to rule
Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Question 4

Agrippina the Younger

Answer 4

probably killed husband Claudius w poison mushrooms, to get throne for her son Nero, killed Claudius’ own son Britannicus
Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Question 5

Nero Claudius Caesar

Answer 5

16 years old when he became emperor, succeeded Claudius, had Agrippina murdered bc he was tired of her dominance
when great fire destroyed much of Rome in 64 AD, he rebuilt city and erected new palace called Domus Aurea, accused of starting fire to have chance to show house off
deflected attention to Christians by accusing them, and condemning many to horrible deaths
took his own life
Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Question 6

Domus Aurea

Answer 6

golden house, very lavish

Question 7

emperors in 68/69 AD

Answer 7

Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian

rapid succession bc. of a series of assassinations and civil wars

Question 8

Vespasian

Answer 8

able to stop chaos and establish his own Flavian dynasty firmly in power
tore down Nero’s Domus Aurea and began construction of Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum) on part of site for the public’s benefit
Flavian Dynasty

Question 9

Titus

Answer 9

succeeded Vespian (his son), had captured Jerusalem
provided relief to victims of Mt. Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD, and a plague and great fire at Rome in 80 AD
completed Flavian Amphitheater and dedicated it w magnificent games
honored by the Arch of Titus in the Forum (depicts triumph over Judea)
Flavian Dynasty

Question 10

Domitian

Answer 10

succeeded Titus (his brother), unleashed a cycle of assassination plots, murdered in 96 AD
Flavian Dynasty

Question 11

Trajan

Answer 11

succeeded Nerva
showed great respect for Senate, grateful senators gave him title Optimus Princeps
revived expansionism of old republic by conquering Dacia, Armenia, Mesopotamia, Assyria
adopted son-in-law Hadrian

Question 12

Nerva

Answer 12

to break the pattern of dynastic succession, elected emperor Nerva
childless and elderly senator
adoptive son Trajan
5 good emperors

Question 13

Suetonius

Answer 13

biographer, wrote ‘The Lives of 12 Caesars’

Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Question 14

Hadrian

Answer 14

succeeded Trajan 
abandoned most of Trajan's conquests except Dacia, concentrated efforts on building strong defensive boundaries such as famous wall in Britain
alienated Senate
adopted Titus Aurelius Antonius as heir
5 good emperors

Question 15

Titus Aurelius Antonius

Answer 15

succeeded Hadrian
earned cognomen Pius by persuading hostile senators to deify Hadrian in return to restore Senate’s lost prestige
in long and peaceful reign- left biggest surplus treasury had ever seen
son-in-law/adopted son Marcus Aurelius
5 good emperors

Question 16

Marcus Aurelius

Answer 16

succeeded Titus Aurelius Antonius
had to deal w first in a series of military crises that almost led to the empire’s destruction during the 3rd century AD
devoted to Stoic philosophy, in his Meditations left behind much admired testament to fortitude and commitment to a moral life in the face of continuous warfare against barbarian enemies, a disastrous plague, court intrigue, and treachery
5 good emperors

Question 17

Claudius

Answer 17

succeeded Caligula (his uncle)
born prematurely w mental amd physical infirmities, became emperor as a joke
Julio-Claudian