CAESARS ON THE THRONE
Augustus created this imperial system in which he ruled as Rome’s “first citizen” while preserving the outward appearance of the old Republic.
What was the Principate?
This nearly 200-year period of relative peace and stability began under Augustus and became Rome’s great imperial golden age. It's Latin name endures today.
What was the Pax Romana?
This Roman province was the homeland of Jesus of Nazareth and the birthplace of Christianity.
What was Judea?
From 235–284 CE, civil wars, invasions, plague, economic collapse, and rapid changes of emperor nearly destroyed Rome during this period.
What was the Crisis of the Third Century?
This 313 CE decree legalized Christianity and ended official persecution of Christians throughout the Roman Empire.
What was the Edict of Milan?
This successor to Augustus became increasingly reclusive and eventually governed Rome from the island of Capri while Sejanus and the Praetorian Guard terrorized political opponents.
Who was Tiberius?
Under this emperor, Rome conquered Dacia and reached the greatest territorial extent in its history in 117 CE.
Who was Trajan?
This Roman governor sentenced Jesus to crucifixion after his arrest during Passover.
Who was Pontius Pilate?
After reuniting the fractured Roman Empire, this emperor earned the title Restitutor Orbis—“Restorer of the World.”
Who was Aurelian?
Constantine’s victory over Maxentius at this 312 CE battle is where he had his legendary vision in the sky, and became famously connected with his adoption of Christian symbols.
What was the Battle of the Milvian Bridge?
Despite being mocked for his limp and stutter, this underestimated emperor conquered Britain and expanded Rome’s aqueducts, harbors, and civil service.
Who was Claudius?
This enormous frontier fortification marked the northern limit of Roman control in Britain after Rome failed to conquer Caledonia.
What was Hadrian’s Wall?
This early Christian missionary traveled through the Mediterranean establishing communities in cities including Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome.
Who was Paul of Tarsus?
In 260 CE, this Roman emperor suffered one of Rome’s greatest humiliations when he was captured alive by the Sassanid Persians.
Who was Valerian?
Constantine founded his new imperial capital in 330 CE on the site of Byzantium, giving it this name.
What is Constantinople?
After the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE, this emperor blamed Christians for the disaster and began one of Rome’s first major persecutions of the new faith.
Who was Nero?
Discovered in Pompeii, this enormous floor mosaic depicts Alexander the Great charging against Darius III of Persia centuries before the city itself was destroyed.
What is the Alexander Mosaic?
Christians who accepted death rather than renounce their faith became known by this term, and stories about them helped strengthen Christian communities during persecution.
What are martyrs?
Diocletian created this “rule of four,” dividing imperial government between two senior Augusti and two junior Caesars.
What was the Tetrarchy?
In 476 CE, this Germanic commander deposed Romulus Augustulus and sent the western imperial symbols to Constantinople, traditionally marking the end of the Western Roman Empire.
Who was Odoacer?
According to ancient accounts, Caligula planned to appoint this beloved horse to the Roman consulship.
Who was Incitatus?
This archaeologist revolutionized the excavation of Pompeii by pouring plaster into voids left in the hardened ash, creating haunting casts of victims at the moment of their deaths.
Who was Giuseppe Fiorelli?
This Jerusalem church stands at the site traditionally associated with Jesus’s crucifixion and tomb and remains one of Christianity’s holiest places.
What is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher?
During the Crisis of the Third Century, this queen seized Egypt and Syria and transformed Palmyra into a powerful breakaway empire before Aurelian reconquered it.
Who was Queen Zenobia?
This chaotic uprising began among rival chariot-racing factions at the Hippodrome of Constantinople and became one of the most destructive sports riots in ancient history, nearly toppling Justinian’s government.
What were the Nika Riots?