Augustus and the Creation of the Roman Empire

During his long reign of near-absolute power, Caesar Augustus established thePax Romana, which gave Rome two hundred years of peace and social stability, and established an empire that would endure for five centuries and transform the history of Europe and the Mediterranean. Ronald Mellor offers a collection of primary sources featuring multiple viewpoints of the rise, achievements, and legacy of Augustus and his empire. His cogent introduction to the history of the Age of Augustus encourages students to examine such subjects as the military in war and peacetime, the social and cultural context of political change, the reform of administration, and the personality of the emperor himself. Document headnotes, a list of contemporary literary sources, a glossary of Greek and Latin terms, a chronology, questions for consideration, and a selected bibliography offer additional pedagogical support.

RONALD MELLOR (Ph.D., Princeton University) is professor of ancient history at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he served as chair of the history department from 1992 to 1997. Centering his research on ancient religion and Roman historiography, Professor Mellor has written seven books: The Roman Historians (1999); Text and Tradition: Studies in Greek History and Historiography in Honor of Mortimer Chambers (ed. 1999); The Historians of Ancient Rome (ed. 1997); Tacitus: The Classical Heritage (1995); Tacitus (1993); From Augustus to Nero: The First Dynasty of Imperial Rome (ed. 1990); and Thea Rome: The Goddess Roma in the Greek World (1975). Professor Mellor is the statewide Principal Investigator of the California History–Social Science Project, which brings university faculty together with K-12 teachers.

Foreword

v

Preface

vii

A Note about the Text

viii

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

xvi

PART ONE Introduction: From Octavian to Augustus

1

(50)

The Collapse of the Roman Republic

3

(3)

The Rise of Octavian

6

(10)

Augustus as Princeps

16

(3)

The New Constitution

19

(3)

Creating a New Elite: Senators and Equestrians

22

(3)

Social and Religious Reform

25

(4)

The Army in War and Peace

29

(4)

Italy and the Provinces

33

(4)

The Imperial Family and Succession

37

(3)

"A City of Marble"

40

(4)

The Golden Age of Latin Literature

44

(2)

The Death and Legacy of Augustus

46

(2)

The Evaluation of Augustus

48

(3)

Principal literary Sources for the Age of Augustus

51

(6)

PART TWO The Documents

57

(116)

1. The Rise of Octavian

59

(31)

1. Augustus, The Achievements of Augustus, 14 CE

59

(10)

2. Nicolaus of Damascus, On Julius Caesar's Admiration for the Young Octavius, 20s BCE

69

(1)

3. Suetonius, On the Ides of March: The Assassination of Julius Caesar, Second Century CE

70

(2)

4. Appian, On Octavian's First Confrontation with Antony, Second Century CE

72

(2)

5. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Letters Revealing His Views of Young Octavian, 44 BCE

74

(3)

6. Appian, On the Second Triumvirate, Second Century CE

77

(3)

7. Tacitus, A Senatorial View of the Civil War, Second Century CE

80

(2)

8. Plutarch, On Cleopatra's Seduction of Mark Antony, Second Century CE

82

(2)

9. Cassius Dio, On Octavian's Propaganda against Antony, Third Century CE

84

(1)

10. Suetonius, On Antony's Propaganda against Octavian in 34 BCE, Second Century CE

85

(1)

11. Cassius Dio, On the Conquest of Egypt, Third Century CE

86

(4)

2. Augustus as Princeps

90

(6)

12. Suetonius, On the Restoration of the Republic, Second Century CE

90

(1)

13. Cassius Dio, On the Illness of Augustus in 23 BCE, Third Century CE

91

(1)

14. Suetonius, Some Anecdotes and Descriptions concerning Augustus, Second Century CE

92

(2)

15. Macrobius, On Augustus' Sense of Humor, Fifth Century CE

94

(2)

3. The New Constitution

96

(8)

16. Cassius Dio, How Agrippa and Maecenas Gave Political Advice to Augustus, Third Century CE

96

(6)

17. The Law Bestowing Power on the Emperor, January 70 CE

102

(2)

4. Creating a New Elite: Senators and Equestrians

104

(4)

18. Suetonius, How Augustus Revised the Membership of the Senate, Second Century CE

104

(1)

19. The Town of Superaequum Honors a Local Man Who Became a Senator, Early First Century CE

105

(1)

20. A Town in Asia Honors a Roman Administrator, 6 CE

106

(2)

5. Social and Religious Reform

108

(15)

21. Suetonius, On How Augustus Must Be Worshipped with the Goddess Roma, Second Century CE

108

(1)

22. Josephus, On King Herod's Construction of a Temple to Roma and Augustus, Late First Century CE

109

(1)

23. Suetonius, On Augustus' Restoration of Temples and Revival of Religious Rituals, Second Century CE

110

(2)

24. The City of Narbo Celebrates the Emperor's Birthday, 11 CE

112

(1)

25. Cassius Dio, On Augustus' Speech in Favor of Marriage, Third Century CE

113

(2)

26. Roman Law Codes, Details of Augustan Legislation on Adultery and Marriage, Sixth Century CE

115

(2)

27. Funeral Oration for an Exceptional Wife, Late First Century BCE

117

(3)

28. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, On How the Emancipation of Roman Slaves Corrupts the Citizen Body, 8 BCE

120

(1)

29. Gaius, On Augustan Laws Restricting the Freeing of Slaves, Second Century CE

121

(2)

6. The Army in War and Peace

123

(4)

30. Velleius Paterculus, On the Annihilation of Rome's German Legions, First Century CE

123

(2)

31. Suetonius, On Augustus' Reaction to News of the Disaster in Germany, Second Century CE

125

(2)

7. Italy and the Provinces

127

(10)

32. Tacitus, On the Administration of the Empire, Second Century CE

127

(1)

33. Suetonius, On How Augustus Showed Great Respect for Greek Culture, Second Century CE

128

(1)

34. Cassius Dio, On How Augustus "Shared" Provincial Government with the Senate, Third Century CE

129

(2)

35. Imperial Edicts for the Government of Cyrene, 7 BCE

131

(2)

36. Josephus, On Augustus' Confirmation of the Rights of Jewish Communities, Late First Century CE

133

(1)

37. Philo of Alexandria, On Augustus' Benevolence toward Rome's Jews, 39 CE

134

(2)

38. The Gospel According to Luke, On the Birth of Jesus of Nazareth, About 80 CE

136

(1)

8. The Imperial Family and Succession

137

(11)

39. Suetonius, On the Grandchildren of Augustus, Second Century CE

137

(2)

40. Tacitus, On Augustus, Livia, and Their Family, Second Century CE

139

(2)

41. Aulus Gellius, A Letter from Augustus to His Grandson Gaius, Second Century CE

141

(1)

42. Cassius Dio, How Livia Gives Advice to Augustus, Third Century CE

142

(2)

43. Suetonius, A Report on Letters between Augustus and Tiberius, Second Century CE

144

(1)

44. Suetonius, Augustus Asks Livia: "What Should We Do about Claudius?" Second Century CE

145

(3)

9. "City of Marble" -Augustan Culture

148

(12)

45. Horace, I Came, I Fought, I Ran, 23 BCE

148

(1)

46. Horace, Rejoice: The Egyptian Queen Is Dead, 23 BCE

149

(2)

47. Horace, Augustus Has Brought Peace, 13 BCE

151

(1)

48. Virgil, A Description of the Battle of Actium, 19 BCE

152

(1)

49. Ovid, On Jupiter's Praise of Augustus, 8 CE

153

(2)

50. Vitruvius, On How Augustus Was Patron of the Arts, 23 BCE

155

(1)

51. Suetonius, On the Emperor as a Builder, Second Century CE

156

(1)

52. Strabo, A Greek View of Augustan Rome, 20 CE

157

(3)

10. The Death and Legacy of Augustus

160

(13)

53. Suetonius, On the Death and Funeral of Augustus, Second Century CE

160

(1)

54. Cassius Dio, Another Account of Augustus' Death, Third Century CE

161

(2)

55. Tacitus, On the Funeral of Augustus, Second Century CE

163

(3)

56. Seneca, On the Clemency of Augustus, 55 CE

166

(2)

57. Velleius Paterculus, A Soldier's View of Augustus, 29 CE

168

(1)

58. Pliny the Elder, On the Trials and Tribulations of an Emperor, 75 CE

169

(2)

59. Philo of Alexandria, Jewish Praise for Augustus, 39 CE

171

APPENDIXES

A Glossary of Greek and Latin Terms

173

(3)

A Chronology of Events Relating to Caesar Augustus and the Roman Empire (63 BCE-1453 CE)

176

(3)

Questions for Consideration

179

(2)

Selected Bibliography

181

(4)

Index

185

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Augustus and the Creation of the Roman Empire A Brief History with Documents

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