What did Augustus do regarding the weaker provinces? [Cassius Dio]
“he handed over the weaker provinces to the senate” so that “the senators should be unarmed and unprepared for war”
What did senators and high-ranking equestrians need to enter Egypt? [Tacitus]
Augustus’ permission
What was Tiberius’ approach to public business? [Suetonius]
“He referred all public business… to the senators”
How did Claudius interact with the impulses of the people? [Suet]
“He practically always obeyed their whims”
What significant revision did Claudius make regarding the senatorial roll? [Tacitus]
He revised the senatorial roll and convinced the senate to make certain Gauls senators
Who were Pallas and Narcissus in relation to Claudius’ administration? [Pliny]
Pallas was a treasurer and Narcissus worked with Messalina
Pliny mentions Pallas’ wealth being compared to Crassus.
What was Augustus’ role in the food supply during scarcity? [Res Gestae]
He “did not decline in the great scarcity of corn the superintendence of the supply” and he resolved this issue
What was the state of food supply when Gaius died? [Seneca]
Only 8 days of food supply left
How does Seneca describe the impact of Starvation?
“A starving population is intolerant of reason” [Seneca, On the Shortness of Life, 18.5]
What infrastructure did Claudius build to secure food supply?
Built harbour at Ostia
This harbour facilitated the import of grain from Egypt.
How did Nero assist refugees during the fire? [Tacitus]
Opened his own garden and cut the price of corn “to less than a sesterce a pound”
What actions did Claudius take during a fire in Rome? [Suetonius]
Recruited firefighters by sitting on a oile of gold and offering it out
Suetonius describes Claudius’ proactive measures during disasters.
What did Augustus organize to prevent fires? [Suetonius]
Stations of nightwatchmen
What was one of the goals of Augustus’ religious restoration? [Horace]
Promote morality through poetry:
“Ancestral crimes, though innocent, you’ll pay… till you restore/Their temples” [Horace, Odes, 3.6]
How did Nero’s depravity manifest in public performances? [Tacitus]
He had “eminent women” act on stage
Fill in the blank: Gaius “insisted on being treated as a _______.” [Suetonius]
god
What issues did Augustus’ laws address? [Suetonius]
“Extravagance, adultery, unchastity, bribery, and the encouragement of marriage”
These laws are discussed in Suetonius’ writings.
What was Tacitus’ view on Tiberius’ Republicanism?
“he did not convince anyone of his Republicanism. For he revived the treason laws”
What did Gaius claim regarding the treason charge? [Dio Cassius]
He claimed to put a stop to it but killed many people with it
What significant legal change did Claudius implement? [Cassius Dio]
“He abolished the charge of maiestas”
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10 Key Quotes10
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Did Augustus Restore the Roman Republic?14
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Character of Tiberius12
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Character of Gaius19
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Character of Claudius15
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Character of Nero15
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Benefit of imperial rule for the people (bread and circuses)15
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Imperial Women23
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Relationship with the Senate25
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Relationship with the Plebs17
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Succession28
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Administration20
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Building Works13
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Relationship with the Equites9
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Relationship with the Army18
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Imperial Cult21
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Opposition19
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Military Success15
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Political Success22
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Provinces16
