Who was Octavian?
Octavian was Julius Caesar’s great-nephew, adopted heir, and successor to the government of the Roman empire. He completed the transformation of the republic into the empire, though he left many of the institutions of the republic in existence in name only. In reality, they only existed to extend his will.
What does Augustus mean?
Augustus means revered and was a title reserved for the gods. The Senate conferred this title upon Octavian, under threat of violence.
What was the circus and gladiators?
The circus was what the chariot races were called, and the gladiators were fights between humans in which they fought to the death for the entertainment of the crowd. These entertainments were free to the public, sponsored by wealthy patricians, senators, and emperors as a way to buy support and peace from the mobs.
What is the rule of law?
The rule of law was how the Romans maintained order in the vast empire. The laws were written down and unchanging unless the emperor made a new law or the legal experts had a new understanding of it. Laws were considered to be just if they reflected natural law and unjust if they did not.
