Augustus’s Policies and the Roman Principate (27 BCE-284 CE)

Rule of Octavian (Augustus), 27 BCE-14 CE

End of Civil War, 30 BCE

Roman Principate (27 BCE-284 CE)

Military Reforms

Imperator (Emperor) “Supreme military commander”

Private armies abolished

Retired soldiers given citizenship and land

Small farming revived

Administrative reforms

Senatorial provinces

Imperial provinces

Strategic frontier regions

Rich agricultural region (Egypt)

Administration improved

Tax farming abolished

Citizenship extended

Octavian's exercise of power

Senate retained

Princeps "First Citizen"

“I had no greater power than the others who were colleagues with me.” (Acts of the Divine Augustus)

Octavian's numerous titles

Imperator (Emperor), “Supreme military commander”

Augustus, 27 BCE

Consul (numerous times)

Tribunician

Power to convene Senate

Generosity with money

Famine relief

Propaganda

Building projects

Spectacular events

Statues

Political Developments under the Principate

Succession of Emperors

Emperor designates heir

Unstable rule, 211-284

36 emperors total

Expanding male citizenship

Universal male citizenship, 212 CE

Emperor Caracalla (198–217 CE)

Roman Cities under the Principate

Rome

1 million inhabitants

Ostia

Pompeii

Mt. Vesuvius, 79 CE

Food and water supply

Aqueduct, piping, and fountain systems

Construction of Portus

Claudius (41–54 CE)

Nero (54–68 CE)

Trajan (98–117 CE)

Features of Roman Cities

Forum

Theaters

Coliseums

Baths

Temples to Roman and non-Roman gods

Example: Temple of Jupiter in Pompeii

Example: Mithra temple in Ostia

Lecture Study Questions

1. What military and administrative reforms did Augustus carry out to change the Roman imperial government from a republic ruled by the Senate to a "Principate" ruled by an "emperor"? Why did Augustus exercise power by taking numerous titles rather than openly declaring himself Emperor?

2. How were Roman cities organized? What was life like in Roman cities?

Reading Study Question:

Hansen, et al., 155-159, 169 (Seeing the Big Picture)

1. What was the Roman Principate (27 BCE-284 CE)? What reforms did Augustus carry out that allowed the Roman Principate to last for three centuries?

2. What can we learn from the remains of Pompeii about the important features of Roman cities? What does the snack bar (thermopolium) in Pompeii reveal about the lifestyles of the people of Pompeii?

Supplementary Reading on D2L>Content:

14) “Rome's Imperial Port”

1. How was the city of Rome supplied with grain under the Roman Republic (509-27 BCE) and the early Principate? Why was the supply system often inadequate before the construction of Portus?

2. How did the construction of the artificial port of Portus solve the supply problems? What does the construction of Portus reveal about how the Roman Principate held together its empire in the Mediterranean Sea?