The Early Empire
The first five emperors of the Roman Empire, ruling from 27 BCE to 68 CE, beginning with Augustus.
Who are the Julio-Claudians?
This Roman structure was begun by Vespasian and completed by his son Titus.
What is the Colosseum (or Flavian Amphitheater)?
This volcano erupted in 79 AD, burying the city of Pompeii and preserving a snapshot of Roman life.
What is Mount Vesuvius?
Romans viewed Christianity with suspicion because their refusal to participate in the Imperial Cult was seen as this crime.
What is treasonous?
This was the name given to the political system of "rule by four" that Diocletian established to improve governance and defense.
What is the Tetrarchy?
The second Roman Emperor, he focused on strengthening the borders and maintaining his predecessor's system of government.
Who is Tiberius?
This last Flavian emperor was known for effective reforms but also a tyrannical, paranoid rule that led to his assassination.
Who is Domitian?
This city was Rome's first major port and a vital gateway for importing essential grain and other goods via the Tiber River.
What is Ostia?
These two early Christian martyrs in 3rd-century Carthage were famous due to one of them keeping a detailed diary of their imprisonment.
Who are Perpetua and Felicity?
This was the name given to Roman emperors who rose to power and were supported by the military rather than traditional dynastic succession.
Who are the Barracks Emperors?
This general and adopted son of Augustus initiated the Pax Romana, though he always referred to himself as the "First Citizen."
Who is Augustus (or Octavian)?
This emperor maintained high popularity despite his short reign, which included the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Who is Titus?
This 200-year period of relative peace, stability, and economic prosperity in the Roman Empire was ushered in by Augustus.
What is the Pax Romana?
This Roman lawyer and author wrote letters detailing the eruption of Vesuvius and his correspondence with Emperor Trajan regarding Christians.
Who is Pliny the Younger?
This major 312 AD battle saw Constantine defeat his rival Maxentius after attributing his victory to the Christian God.
What is the Battle of the Milvian Bridge?
This region of central Italy, home to the people who heavily influenced early Roman culture, was eventually conquered by Rome.
What is Etruria?
This monumental altar was commissioned by the Senate to commemorate Augustus's return and the establishment of the Pax Romana.
What is the Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace)?
This emperor, one of the "Five Good Emperors," is famous for expanding the empire to its greatest territorial extent.
Who is Trajan?
This historian provided an invaluable, though biased, account of the early Roman Empire and documented the persecution under Nero.
Who is Tacitus?
This decree, issued by Constantine and Licinius in 313 AD, granted freedom of worship to all religions in the Roman Empire.
What is the Edict of Milan?
The three wars fought between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian Empire that established Rome's dominance over the Mediterranean.
What are the Punic Wars?
The dynasty founded by Vespasian that restored order and finances after the chaotic "Year of the Four Emperors."
What is the Flavian Dynasty?
The bustling public square at the center of ancient Rome, serving as the heart of the city's religious, political, and commercial life.
What is the Roman Forum?
What is Slavery?
This emperor is known for consolidating the empire's borders and building the famous wall across Britain.
Who is Hadrian?