Class 7 W 09/24/25: The Dominate to the Fall of Rome (Augustus to the Fall)

Praetorian Guard

The elite military branch protecting the emperor, which gained significant power in selecting and removing emperors.

Tiberius

The second emperor of Rome who ruled for about 23 years and solidified the imperial system while relying heavily on the Praetorian Guard.

Caligula

The third emperor of Rome known for his extreme instability and being assassinated by the Praetorian Guard.

Claudius

The fourth emperor of Rome, initially underestimated, but proved to be an effective ruler who expanded the empire.

Nero

The fifth emperor of Rome, considered a tyrant, who enacted lavish spending and persecuted Christians after the Great Fire of Rome.

Year of the Four Emperors

A brief civil war after Nero’s death featuring four emperors, demonstrating military control was paramount for ruling Rome.

Vespasian

The emperor who emerged from the Year of the Four Emperors and built the Colosseum, symbolizing the return of public resources.

Titus

Vespasian's son who captured Jerusalem but ruled for only a few years before dying from sickness.

Domitian

The younger brother of Titus known for his reign of terror and eventual assassination by the Praetorian Guard.

Adoptive Military Dynasty

A system where emperors adopted their top military commanders as heirs, emphasizing merit over lineage.

Trajan

An emperor noted for massive public works and for leading the Roman Empire to its largest territorial extent.

Hadrian

Adopted by Trajan, he built Hadrian's Wall to reinforce the empire’s defenses against the Scots.

Marcus Aurelius

The philosopher-emperor known for his stoic writings; his reign marked the end of the Pax Romana.

Third-Century Crisis

A period marked by plagues, economic recession, and constant assassinations, leading to instability in Rome.

Diocletian

Emperor who restored order but ruled as an absolute monarch and divided the empire into East and West.

Constantine

Emperor known for legitimizing Christianity and moving the capital to Constantinople, establishing a new era.

Western Roman Empire

Officially ended in 476 CE with the deposition of Romulus Augustulus, marking the start of the dark ages.

Economic Problems

One of the primary reasons for the fall of Western Rome, characterized by inflation and a growing gap between rich and poor.

Military Reasons

Factors including loyalty shifts in armies and reliance on non-Roman troops, contributing to the decline of Western Rome.

Political Reasons

Decline in loyalty to the state and lack of orderly succession contributing to the instability of the Western Roman Empire.

Social Reasons

Population decline, religious divisions, and over-reliance on slave labor that undermined social structures in Roman society.