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Later Emperors
Nero was perhaps the most notorious emperor in Roman history. Nero became emperor when his mother conspired to kill his stepfather. Once Nero came to power, he ordered his mother’s execution. He also killed two wives and a stepbrother. Nero ruled the empire by day, but at night he prowled the streets of Rome assaulting women. He believed himself to be the greatest artist in the empire. Never before had a Roman Emperor appeared on a stage. Many Roman nobles considered his performances outrageous, but no one would risk torture or death by criticizing him. In AD67, Nero toured Greece. He participated in many games and contests, always finishing first. As Nero devoted himself to his artistic pursuits, he lost power. In AD68, Nero faced a revolt from his soldiers. His guard claimed Nero lamented, “What an artist the world is losing,” then stabbed himself in the neck. The Roman Empire reached its greatest size
in AD117 under
the emperor Trajan. The empire extended from Britain and Spain, across
France, southern Germany, and the Balkan Mountains. The empire also included
North Africa, and stretched as far east as the Caspian Sea. The Romans
clai In AD121, the emperor Hadrian built a wall across northern England to keep out invaders from Scotland. The Romans called the Scots “barbarians,” possibly because their Celtic language reminded the Romans of the sounds made by sheep. In time, the Romans called all of the people they felt were uncultured “barbarians.” Barbarian warriors from Germany would later lead to the end of the Western Roman Empire. |
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Augustus
had complete power in Rome, but he showed great respect for the senate.
Later emperors made no secret of their power. The Senate still existed,
but senators had little control over the affairs of the empire. Some of
the emperors who followed Augustus ruled wisely. Others were foolish and
cruel.
med
all of the land surrounding the enormous Mediterranean Sea, which they
called “a Roman lake.”