Rome Under Octavian
In Rome Under Octavian, archaeologist and historian Richard Miles describes how Octavian, later known as Augustus, traded political freedoms for peace to lay the foundation for Rome to become the greatest empire in history. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Ancient Worlds, an epic series with archaeologist and historian Richard Miles as he explores the roots of civilization from Mesopotamia to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Lesson Express
Q: What event precipitated the fall of the Republic?
A: The assassination of Julius Caesar led to inevitable civil wars, marking the beginning of the Republic's collapse.
Q: Who took Julius Caesar's place? And what type of government did he impose on the Roman people?
A: Julius Caesar’s adopted son Octavian took his place. He imposed an autocratic government disguised as a restored republic, where the Roman people surrendered political freedoms in exchange for peace.
Q: Why might Octavian have changed his name?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may reference that Augustus means “majestic” and that is the image he wanted to convey.
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