Emperors Of Rome (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) by Professor Garrett G. Fagan (2007-05-04)

They are said to be the most powerful rulers who ever lived-a checkered mix of the wise, the brutal, and the unhinged. For more than five centuries they presided over a multi-ethnic empire that was nearly always at war, if not with neighbors then with rebellious factions within the empire itself. The full scope of their powers was not systematized in constitutional law, a fact that tempted many of them to overreach disastrously; and the lack of clear rules of succession meant that most of them died violently. The emperors of Rome served as a stabilizing influence in a realm that straddled three continents and covered more than 32 modern nation-states, with a population numbering about 60 million souls at the height of Roman prosperity. How did this system of rule come about? What did it replace? And who were the colorful, cruel, and crafty men who filled this almost omnipotent post? Television series such as I, Claudius have explored the complex personalities of several of the better-known emperors, whom you will meet in depth in this course: Augustus, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. About the Author: Assoc Professor of Classics & ancient Mediterranean Studies at Penn State Univ. (18 tapes w/study guides, 36 lectures, 30 minutes per lecture)