Emporer

Discuss how the role of emperor, senate, and army changed under Augustus as Imperialism evolved. Explain the duties of the emperor under the Imperial system.

Augustus meaning “the exalted or holy one”, is what the senate in the roman Empire named Gais Octavius after he defeated the last of his rivals in 27 BC. His reign lasted from 27 BC to AD 14. The role of the emperor was raised to almost a god like status. As emperor his reign was absolute. He was the princeps and pater patriae. His reign as emperor was the death of the representative institutions since he combined them all under one person, himself. During his reign the senate made many changes. They minted bronze and copper coins, Augustus introduced the consillium to the Senate. Many of the members of the Senate were replaced with his loyal followers thus helping to ensure his laws were passed. He pretty much left a fake senate to rule the empire while he himself created a different body of state to give power to successors. The army also changed during this time. Augustus did not want the army to be a drain on the people so he reduced the number of legions from 50 to 25. A body of 9,000 men were organized and called Praetorian Guard. These men were basically body guards for the emperor. Under the Imperial system the emperor basically had 4 duties. He was to protect the terrority and also expand it. Provide justice to the people as well as make sure that good government reigned throughout the empire. He had to supervise the public worship of gods and be a symbol of unity in the empire. Many people took this past part to heart and actually became an almost cult like following of worshippers of the emperor.

What four major contributions did the Roman Republic make that define Western Civilization? Fully discuss and explain these contributions.