HIST 150 Lecture 5: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Document Summary
The decline and fall of the roman empire. Wealthy people would throw banquets, pay for extravagant food, etc. etc. Colosseum (ad 75-80) built by emperors using their own money. Imperial box: where the emperor and his guests would seat. Seats were free, emperor would pay for gladiatorial games could fit about 50,000 people. Gladiators were pow, slaves, free trainers, some women. His reign is seen as the marking of the end of the roman empire. Augustus and his successors never set up and easy way to transfer power from one emperor to the next. Very informal way of picking the next successor. Five good emperors each emperor would formally adopt a young man as his successor, and he would be trained to grow up to be the next successor. Marcus aurelius - last of the good emperors. very hardworking , philosophical. Son was commodus, his successor, nothing like his father.