Judea and the Flavian Dynasty

UNIT 12

JEWISH REVOLT

69: Year of RevoltFollowing Nero’s death, there was a power

vacuum

Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian

Vespasian was able to gain power following his success in putting down the Jewish Revolt

This begins the Flavian Dynasty

66-73 A.D.; the “Great Revolt”

Revolt over tax policy

Rome confiscated all the Temple money

Jewish zealots took over

66 A.D. – ambushed and defeated a Roman legion

JEWISH REVOLT

VESPASIANReign: 69-79 A.D.

Titus Flavius Vespasianus

VERY successful politician and general

Paid “insufficient attention” to Nero’s lyre performancei.e. he fell asleep….

April, 67 – arrives in Judea

• Arrives with his trusted son, Titus

• Jewish resistance is splintered

• Zealots all gather in Jerusalem; behind the walls of the city

JEWISH REVOLTVespasian leaves to march

on Rome; Titus takes control

Laid siege, cut off supplies, in-fighting destroyed Jewish resistance

Sept. 73 – Romans take Jerusalem

Mercilessly plunder and burn down the temple!! Josephus wrote that over

1 million people died!

“69 was very nearly the last of Roman civilization” - Tacitus

Wasn’t as charismatic as others; benefited from good timing.

Furthered his own propaganda to make him seem more than just a man “Peace and Victory”

Privately he was very self-deprecating Laughed when he was traced back to Hercules!

Patronized the arts and letters Put teachers and artists on the payroll This helped to craft a positive legacy of him

VESPASIAN

He needed 40 thousand million sesterces….

Tacitus believed he was the “only man who improved”

Often accepted bribes, obsessed with making money“Vespasian’s sponges”

Implemented a toilet tax!“Money does not stink”

Built the “Flavian Amphitheatre”, or “The Colosseum”How does the Colosseum “pay for itself”?

“Dear me, I must be becoming a god.”Vespasian, on his death bed

VESPASIAN’S RULE

79-81 A.D.

Universally liked and seen as very generous

DESCTRUCTION OF POMPEII August-Oct 79 A.D. – Mt. Vesuvius erupted

Buried countryside in 60 feet of volcanic ash!!

10,000-25,000 people died

Titus led a relief effort immediately

He also helped to rebuild Rome after a intense fire Commissioned 100 days of games and events Rebuilt the Pantheon, completed the Colosseum

TITUS

Titus was obsessed with gladiatorial combat!

Fit 70,000 people

Colosseum included: Water fountains Tickets and seats Bathrooms Retractable roofs

Could also flood for naval battles and had trap doors!

Animals were even fed human flesh in order to be trained to eat humans!

Animal trainers would sometimes be killed if the animals did not “perform”

COLOSSEUM

SLIDES 8-14 QUIZ 1. What was the

name of the Colosseum when it was built?

2. What Italian city was destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D.?

GLADIATORSFunding would be provided by a

“sponsor”

Novices would begin in smaller arenas

Not ALL bouts resulted in death If a fighter was killed, the sponsor

had to pay for his replacement!

Had about a 90% chance of survival

Would be paid for each victory

Sometimes would perform at private parties

THUMBS DOWN??“editor” was in

charge of the fight

Would do whatever the audience wanted

Gladiators could ask for mercy

Probably “thumbs sideways” meant death Referee?

DOMITIANReign: 81-96 A.D.

Ignored by Vespasian

Was very introverted; enjoyed solitude

“Alone in the palace, with not even a fly”

Did NOT trust the SenateLived through the revolt of 69 A.D.

DOMITIAN’S MILITARY EXPLOITSUnilaterally declares Titus’

divinity Totally ignores the senate…

Gives the army a HUGE raise

77-84 A.D. - Roman governor Agricola conquers Britain and Scotland

85-88 A.D. - Went to war with Dacia and he paid them off! This was unbelievable to

the Roman people!

DOMITIAN’S GOVERNANCEMade himself

“censor in perpetuity”

Revived treason trials, sex laws, and was brutally harsh to corrupt senators

Demanded to be called “You Lord and God”

DOMITIAN’S DEATHAssassinated in 96

A.D.

Murdered by his own chamberlain

Hid a dagger in his sling, clumsily stabbed Domitian

Caught him off guard b/c it was after noon!