IMPERIAL TIMELINE

IMPERIAL TIMELINE

Expansion under Augustus

The Julio-Claudian Dynasty

AugustusTiberius (competent but paranoid and cruel)Caligula: insaneClaudius: a decent leader; the empire started expanding againNero: grandiose and crazy, but perhaps popular with rare glimpses of competenceAfter the suicide of Nero there is chaosStability returns with Vespasian’s accession

The FlaviansVespasian 69 AD – 79 ADTitus 79 AD – 81 ADDomitian 81 AD – 96 ADThe Flavians were competent emperorsFinancial reforms bring fiscal healthMassive building programDisasters: Vesuvius, plague, and the destruction of Jerusalem, all under the short reign of Titus.

The 5 good emperors (2nd c. AD)

NervaTrajanHadrianAntoninus PiusMarcus AureliusEach adopted a competent successor. This is the high point of Imperial Rome. Under Trajan Rome reaches its greatest expansion in 117 AD.

Roman Empire under Trajan

The Decline and FallThe 3rd century crisisDiocletian divides the empire into 4 parts in order to make it governable4th c: Constantine temporarily reunites the empire and advances ChristianityAfter his death the empire splits into two. The Western part would be overrun by 476 ADThe Eastern part would continue for another 1000 years, but changed into a Greek-speaking, Christian empire (Byzantium).