Five good emperors Nerva – Marcus Aurelius HIS 207 Oakton Community College Mitilineos November 17, 2011 Reminders

 All material due by 11/29/2011

 Final study guide – 11/29/2011

 Today: ◦ Film ◦ Boudicca ◦ Five good emperors Boudicca and the Iceni

 Roman Britain  C.E. 60  The evidence ◦ Tacitus Agricola ◦ Archaeology not helpful  Iceni ◦ Celtic tribe in East Anglia ◦ farming

 Prasutagus, king of the Iceni  Women among the Iceni ◦ power and positions of prestige ◦ Owned land ◦ Right to divorce  Prasutagus ◦ Client/king ◦ Left kingdom to two daughters and Nero

 Roman law prohibits inheritance by women  Members of ruling class enslaved  Boudicca flogged, her daughters raped  The Iceni look to Boudicca for leadership  Revolt begins  Supported by neighboring tribes, the Iceni numbered about 100,000  Attacked Camulodunum (Cambridge) and Colchester  Successful for awhile due to guerilla tactics, use of chariots, lack of respect  Last victory at Londinium (London)  230,000 faced smaller Roman force (Midlands – location unknown)  70,000 killed as Roman weapons and tactics under Paulinas prevail Suicide c. 61/62 Nerva 96-98  Period of five good emperors generally prosperous  Chosen by senate  Recalled exiles  Modified taxes  Tolerated Christians  Adopted Trajan as his successor  Purchased land from wealthy and rented them to the needed  Promoted public education including poor children Trajan 98-117  Born in Spain  Father was a consul  Patrician status  Adopted by Nerva in 97  Extended the empire As emperor

 Deified Nerva  Optimus Augustus – the best  Generally fair to the army  Cash gifts to Romans  Increased the number receiving free grain  Lessened taxes  On Christians - moderate  Public works ◦ Roads, bridges, aqueducts, harbors ◦ New public baths ◦ New forum  Libraries – Greek and Latin  Trajan’s column

Military

 Dacians  Survived Antioch earthquake in 115  Parthians

 Revolts in 116  Upper Mesopotamia  Died returning to Rome  ctesiphon Hadrian 117-138  Proclaimed by  Hadrian’s wall praetorian guard  Britain  Elected by senate  122  Interested in the arts

 Less interested in conquest