Augustus: Statue, Power, and Political Image

• Augustus used his statue to communicate messages of power, youth, and calculated beauty.
• The statue shows him always looking past you, suggesting he is focused on more important matters.
• His curly hair is styled to convey both beauty and power.
• The tilt of his head suggests conversation, but his superior stature is emphasized.
• Augustus aimed to appear greater than everyone, including politicians.
• The statue spans Augustus's age from 19 to 76 years.

Discovery of the Statue

• The statue was found in Meroe, Northern Sudan.
• The Queen of Meroe buried the head, ensuring it would be stepped on, symbolically degrading Augustus.

Augustus's Acquisition of Legitimacy

• Augustus transferred the government to the people, creating a deceptive appearance of a better system.
• He was essentially establishing a monarchy under the guise of a republic.
• Festivals featuring exotic animals demonstrated his power and control.
• Misfortunes were exploited to convince people of Augustus's need for greater power, almost leading to his appointment as dictator.

Religious Changes Under Augustus

• People were manipulated into perceiving Augustus as divine, the son of a god.

Santa Maria Antiqua Sarcophagus

• It reveals Christians were concerned with the afterlife and were wealthy.
• The story of Jonah and the Whale symbolizes faith.

Political and Religious Climate During Jesus's Time

• The Roman government, while open to diverse cultures, demanded that Roman citizens honor the Emperor above all.
• This requirement clashed with Jewish beliefs, as they refused to place anyone above their God.
• Hellenism, which promoted Greek values, was also favored by the Roman government.
• These conflicts fueled Jewish desires for freedom from Roman control and the establishment of a Jewish state, fostering belief in a Messiah.
• Jesus's teachings of compassion and forgiveness offered hope to the Jews, leading some to believe he was the Messiah.
• However, Jesus's non-violent approach and the fear that he might incite rebellion led the Romans to suppress his teachings.

Pliny and the Christians

• Pliny was a governor responsible for maintaining order.
• Neighbors were upset because temples were empty and demand for items to honor Gods had decreased.
• Pliny found that Christians met before daybreak to sing hymns and worship Christ as a god, and that they pledged to be morally good.
• Pliny interrogated suspected Christians, executing those who persisted in their faith.
• Emperor Trajan approved of Pliny's methods but advised against actively seeking out Christians and cautioned against taking accusations too seriously.

Significance of Pliny's Actions

• Christianity was initially viewed as a sect of Judaism, thus protected under Roman law, but Pliny's actions treated Christians as a separate group.
• Christians were treated differently due to Roman views on religion; Christianity was seen as a new superstition rather than an ancient tradition.
• Christians were blamed for disasters, leading to a worsening reputation and, eventually, the criminalization of Christianity.

Jesus's Teachings

• Jesus taught love, compassion, and forgiveness, even towards enemies.
• He advocated for non-violence as the path to peace.
• The belief that Jesus overcame death amplified the power of his teachings.

Paul's Role in Early Christianity

• Paul, a Jew from Asia Minor, converted to Christianity and became a devoted follower.
• He emphasized that Christianity was for everyone.
• Paul was instrumental in spreading Christianity and expanding its reach.

Traditional View of Rome's Fall

• Barbarian invasions caused the fall of Rome.
• Barbarians conquered Rome, ending the Roman Empire in Rome.

Alternative View of Rome's Fall

• Rome's overexpansion from Italy led to its downfall.
• Governing distant lands from the capital became increasingly difficult.

John Green's Perspective on Rome's Fall

• There was no singular fall; instead, there was a continuity between the Western and Eastern empires.
• The empire split into two similarly governed entities.

Similarities Between Western and Eastern Empires

• Both empires were ruled by a single leader with military power.
• Both experienced constant warfare.
• Both were wealthy due to high taxes, trade, and agriculture.
• Both were urbanized and compact.
• Both were initially governed by Roman law.

Differences Between Western and Eastern Empires

• The Eastern Empire, or Byzantine Empire, was mostly ruled by different men, and few rulers were from Rome.
• The number of political leaders varied.
• Byzantines did not speak Latin.
• The two empires followed different Christian religions: Orthodox vs. Catholic.

Conclusion on Rome's Fall

• The Roman Empire collapsed in 476 CE with the overthrow of Romulus Augustus.
• The Byzantine Empire's differences in religion, political leadership, and non-Roman rulers indicate it was not a continuation of the original Roman Empire.
• The fact that many Byzantine rulers were not Roman supports the view that it was not a continuation of the Roman Empire.

Augustus used statues to project power and beauty, always looking past others to appear superior. Discovered in Meroe, its burial symbolized degradation. He acquired legitimacy by feigning a republic while establishing a monarchy, using festivals and misfortunes to control public perception.