Rome 42B.C. to A.D. 138

During this time, Rome became the size of the continental United States. Rome covered Britian to Arab and Germany to Morocco including the Mediterranean Sea.[1]  

In 42B.C. Caesar was assassinated. Octavia ruled in the West and Marc Anthony in East. In 27B.C. Octavia became sole ruler taking the name Augustus Caesar. He made positive improvements such as giving respect to the senate, reorganizing the senate, and making membership requirements. He encouraged couples to have children. Adultery became a criminal offense. Pagan temples were removed as traditional religion was stressed. He prepared the way for Christianity. He reigned from 27B.C. to A.D. 14.

Tiberius was his successor from A.D. 14 to 37. He continued in the footsteps of Augustus Caesar. He maintained the current borders. He did not rage war to increase the size of Rome.

Tiberius’ successor was Gaius from A.D. 37 to 41. He attempted to undo all the good of Augustus and Tiberius.

Gaius’ successor was Claudius from A.D. 41 to 54. He expelled the Jews from Rome because of the teaching of Christ see Acts 18:12. He was known as a proficient emperor. He conquered southern Britian in A.D. 43 to 47. He was poisoned by his fourth wife Agrippine. She wanted her son, Nero, to become the next emperor.

Claudius’ successor was Nero from A.D. 54 to 68. He was an immoral man. He blamed the burning of Rome in A.D. 64 on the Christians. He martyred several Christians.

Nero’s successors were Galba, Otho, and Vitellius from A.D. 68 to 69. They were killed during the civil war that followed the death of Nero.

Vespasian reigned from A.D. 69 to 79.

Vespasian’s successor was his son Titus from A.D. 79 to 81.  

Titus’ successor was his brother Domitian from A.D. 81 to 96.

Domitian’s successor was Nerva from A.D. 96 to 98.

Nerva’s successor was Trajan from A.D. 98 to 117. He renewed the campaign against Christendom. He was the adopted son of Nerva. Trajan adopted his nephew Hadrian to be his successor.

Trajan’s successor was Hadrian from A.D. 117 to 138. He continued work on the administration concerns rather than conquering more territories. He attempted to rename Jerusalem to Aeolia Capitolina, prohibiting circumcision, and erected a temple of Zeus and himself on the site of Solomons’ temple.    

Bibliography

McRay, John and Tomas Pace. “Rome and the Roman Empire.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1381 - 1391. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

[1] John McRay and Tomas Pace, “Rome and the Roman Empire,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 1381-1391.