9-79 A.D.
After Nero's
suicide came the year of the four emperors--all of them generals fighting it
out for control of the Empire. Galba, Otho, Vitellius all faded after several
months in quick succession, leaving Vespasian at the end of the year as master
of Rome and founder of the second Imperial dynasty, the Flavians, which included
himself and his two sons, Titus and Domitian. Vespasian cast himself as a simple
man of the people (as opposed to Nero), and ruled well
for ten years. He had an off beat--and often off-color--sense of humor. One
of his most significant contributions to the city was the Flavian amphitheater
(finished by his sons), known to most as the Colosseum.
Ancient Source: Suetonius'
Lives of the Twelve Caesars (Vita Divi Vespasiani),
Check
out a WEB SITE
Student Work:
Emily
T.
Matt
S.
Project designed and implemented by
Lee Burnett and the eighth grade Latin students of Germantown
Academy.
February 2002