Gaius Octavius Augustus: First Emperor of the Roman Empire
Gaius Octavius Augustus
First Emperor of the Roman Empire
Clinton Jenkins
Hum 121
Octavius Research Paper
10/11/12
Gaius Octavius Augustus
First Emperor of the Roman Empire Gaius Octavius, better known to historians as Augustus, succeeded his great uncle Julius Caesar following his assassination. In his wake, Augustus would become the first Emperor of the newly formed Roman Empire and bring massive, sweeping revisions to Roman law as well as centralize the government, military and economic currency of the Empire. He also reemphasized the importance of art, music and literature in Roman culture, bringing about a new era of historically important artists, poets, sculptors, scribes and philosophers. While the beginnings of his reign are marked with political assassinations, battles and conquests (some of the bloodiest, most vicious, history has ever seen) his subsequent rule marks the beginning of over 200 years of relative peace throughout the Mediterranean Sea and greater Roman Empire. Following his reign the Roman Empire would grow to become the largest in history at that time, the only empire to encompass territory on 3 continents: Africa, Europe and Asia, as well as Britain.
Octavius would play an influential part in the shift of Rome from a Republic to an Empire. Initially empowered by the senate, hoping he would be easily controllable, he would prove to be more cunning than even Caesar before him. However in the end he proved to be an aristocratic leader quelling rebellions, garnering the support and love of the Roman citizens and pursuing peace and acceptance from the senate. All the while reforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire, centralizing it's government, military, religion and economic currency under his and the senates control.
Augustus was born Gaius Octavius on September 23rd 63 B.C.E. in the city of Rome to his namesake Gaius Octavius, a senator of Rome whom would one day be elected praetor. His mother Atia was
First Emperor of the Roman Empire
Clinton Jenkins
Hum 121
Octavius Research Paper
10/11/12
Gaius Octavius Augustus
First Emperor of the Roman Empire Gaius Octavius, better known to historians as Augustus, succeeded his great uncle Julius Caesar following his assassination. In his wake, Augustus would become the first Emperor of the newly formed Roman Empire and bring massive, sweeping revisions to Roman law as well as centralize the government, military and economic currency of the Empire. He also reemphasized the importance of art, music and literature in Roman culture, bringing about a new era of historically important artists, poets, sculptors, scribes and philosophers. While the beginnings of his reign are marked with political assassinations, battles and conquests (some of the bloodiest, most vicious, history has ever seen) his subsequent rule marks the beginning of over 200 years of relative peace throughout the Mediterranean Sea and greater Roman Empire. Following his reign the Roman Empire would grow to become the largest in history at that time, the only empire to encompass territory on 3 continents: Africa, Europe and Asia, as well as Britain.
Octavius would play an influential part in the shift of Rome from a Republic to an Empire. Initially empowered by the senate, hoping he would be easily controllable, he would prove to be more cunning than even Caesar before him. However in the end he proved to be an aristocratic leader quelling rebellions, garnering the support and love of the Roman citizens and pursuing peace and acceptance from the senate. All the while reforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire, centralizing it's government, military, religion and economic currency under his and the senates control.
Augustus was born Gaius Octavius on September 23rd 63 B.C.E. in the city of Rome to his namesake Gaius Octavius, a senator of Rome whom would one day be elected praetor. His mother Atia was
Bibliography: Williams, John. Augustus. New York: Viking, 1972. Print. "Augustus Caesar | First Roman Emperor." Augustus Caesar | First Roman Emperor. N.p., 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 2 Oct. 2012. Gascoigne, Bamber. HistoryWorld. From 2001, ongoing. http://www.historyworld.net Watkins, Thayor. "The Timeline of the Life of Octavian, Caesar Augustus." The Timeline of the Life of Octavian, Caesar Augustus. San Jose State University, n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2012. .