The Rоmаn Empire wаs led by sоme оf history’s most celebrаted visionaries and notorious tyrants. In 31 BCE, Octavian became the first Emperor of Rome. When Julius Caesar was assassinated, Octavian raised an army to avenge his uncle’s murder. At the Battle of Actium he defeated Mark Anthony and took control of the empire. He became known as Augustus Caesar and introduced the period of peace known as the Pax Romana. During that period, the Roman economy, agriculture, and arts flourished. Augustus oversaw the construction of many of Rome’s great temples and strengthened its legendary aqueduct system. Aqueducts were engineered to transport fresh water from a source (like a lake, river, or spring) to a distribution point, such as a highly populated city or agricultural land. They supplied enormous volumes of water to fuel public bathhouses, hundreds of decorative fountains, and private homes in the empire's cities. The story of Rome’s Emperors in the first century AD is a rollercoaster that lurches from peace and prosperity to terror and tyranny. Why was the first century so turbulent? The answer is simple: hereditary rule. For most of this period, emperors were not chosen on the basis of their ability, but simply because they were born in the right family. Once on the throne, there was no easy exit. It was a job for life, so if an emperor was mad, bad or dangerous, the only solution was to cut that life short. Everybody knew it, so paranoia ruled. For every great leader, such as Augustus, there was a tyrant like Caligula. He drained the state treasury through lavish building projects and personal spending. To replenish the funds, he resorted to blackmailing and seizing the estates of Rome's wealthiest families. Caligula was assassinated by officers of the Praetorian Guard, the emperor's elite bodyguards. For every Claudius there was a Nero. Nero is most infamous for his extreme cruelty, immorality, and the myth that he "fiddled" during the Great Fire that burned a large part of the city. Rather than face a brutal execution at the hands of the Senate, Nero died by forced suicide. Only at the end of the period did Rome take succession into its own hands and select somebody who was reasonably sane, smart, and honest. Hadrian was the third of the Five Good Emperors of Rome. His most famous military project was known as Hadrian's Wall, an 80-mile stone wall built across Britain to fortify the Empire's northern frontier. He is also renowned for rebuilding Rome’s iconic temple to all the gods, the Pantheon. Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five Good Emperors. After his death, his son Commodus took power. His rule is defined by paranoia, decadence, and corruption; he is considered one of Rome’s worst emperors. It is no surprise that Commodus was later murdered – choked to death by his fitness coach. QUESTIONS: What was life like for a Roman emperor? According to the reading, who were some of the best emperors and who were the worst? Use specific detail. Your answer must be in your own words- do not use direct quotes. Your answer must be a minimum of 75 words.