The Rise and Decline

of the Pax Romana

Marcus Aurelius (161-180) The Last “Good Emperor”	Commodus (180-192) Megolomaniac	Constantine (324-337) The First Christian Emperor

• Was the decline of Rome inevitable? Why should we study it today?
• What’s the best way to explain Rome’s decline?
• Was the Roman Empire, conqueror of the Hellenistic World, conquered by Hellenistic Culture?

Key Terms

1) The “Good Emperors” 6) Diocletian

2) Marcus Aurelius – The Meditations 7) Neo-Platonism

3) Aqueducts 8) Battle of Adrianople

4) Pax Romana

5) Commodus

I. The Height of the Roman Empire (14 — 180 CE): The Pax Romana

o Augustus’ Successors: Bad Leaders, Strong Empire

§ The Problem of Succession

§ Tiberius, Caligula, Nero (14-68 CE)

o Stabilization: The Flavian Dynasty (68-96)

§ Vespasian, Titus, Domitian

o The Five “Good” Emperors (96-180)

§ Nerva (96-98) and the Adoptive System

§ Trajan and Hadrian: Emperors on the Frontiers

§ Antoninus Pius: The Humanist?

§ Marcus Aurelius (161-80): A Philosopher King?
The Meditations

o Peace and Prosperity

§ Bureaucracy, Law, and Citizenship

§ Infrastructure: Roads (2) Aqueducts, Cities, and Sewers

§ Economic Stability and the Mediterranean Economy

§ Improvements for Slaves and Women

§ Political Stability: The Pax Romana, “The Roman Peace” or “Time of Happiness”

· “What have the Romans done for us?”

II. The Crisis of the Late Empire (180 - 410 AD)

o Political Causes

§ Commodus (180-192) and the Problem of Succession

§ The New Military Politics of the 3^rd Century

§ Order through Military Dictatorship: Diocletian (284-305) and the end of the Principate

· The Division of the Empire: East and West

§ Constantine and the Primacy of the Eastern Empire

· Constantinople

o Military Causes

§ The Problem of “Imperial Overstretch” (Paul Kennedy’s Thesis)

§ The New “Barbarian” Army

§ Invaders on the Frontiers: The Battle of Adrianople, 378

§ Military Collapse: Rome Sacked (410 and 476)

o Economic Causes

§ Dependence on Slave Labor/Lack of Investment & Innovation

§ Population Decline

§ Inflation and Decline Trade

§ The Decline of Urban Life and the Rise of Rural Autarchy (Latifundia)

o Cultural Causes

§ The New Stoicism & Political Disinterest of Elites

§ Spiritual Philosophy and the Decline of Reason: Neo-Platonism

§ Mystery Cults and Mystery Religions: Mithraism

§ The Challenge (Threat?) of Christianity: Edward Gibbon’s Thesis

· The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-78)