The document provides brief summaries of several Roman emperors: - Caligula was the third emperor who was severely mentally unstable and killed members of his family and declared war on the sea before being assassinated by his Praetorian Guard. - Nero was obsessed with his popularity and fame, played music as Rome burned in a great fire, and blamed Christians for it, having many killed. He committed suicide. - Marcus Aurelius was considered a wise and moderate emperor who began finding his successor during his reign. - Commodus was the son of Marcus Aurelius but had senators and his minister killed and nearly bankrupted the treasury before being assassinated. - Later emperors

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3. First emperor of Rome
Doubled the size of
Rome
Founded the Praetorian
Guard
Founded the Roman
Postal Service

4. Severely mentally
unstable
Killed his family to keep
them from the throne
Tried to make his horse
consul
Declared war against the
sea
killed by his Praetorian
Guard

5. Obsessed with his own
popularity
Played his fiddle as Rome
burned
Blamed the fire on the
Christians and had many
killed
He committed suicide,
knowing he was to be
assassinated

6. Elected emperor at 64
Considered a wise &
moderate emperor
Began finding his
successor during his
reign

7. Increased size & wealth of Rome
Worked with the Senate on war
treaties
Built aqueducts, temples &
public baths
Held gladiatorial games in the
Colosseum that brought in 5
million people
Respected as a wise & just

8. Travelled across the Empire
Consolidated Empire &
withdrew from far-off
conquests
Built a wall against
Barbarians in Roman Britain
Cancelled Romans’ unpaid
taxes
Built the Pantheon

9. Promoted arts &
sciences
Allowed governors to
make decisions
Led the most peaceful
period of Roman
History

10. Defended Rome against
invasions
Great military leader
Known as the wisest &
purest men
Brilliant Stoic philosopher
whose Meditations are still
studied

11. Son of Marcus Aurelius
Had senators and his chief
minister killed
Nearly bankrupted the treasury
Planned to rename Rome
Colonia Commodiana (City of
Commodus)
Fought in gladiatorial games
Assassinated by his wrestling
partner

12. Most later emperors
serve very short reigns
often suffering violent
ends
The year 193 saw 5
different emperors
Many assassinations,
wars, and rebellions
The Empire declines