Ancient Rome

• Caesar is the grandnephew of Julius Caesar 
• Augustus was the first emperor
• Begins the Pax Romana-a period of peace and prosperity 
• Built roads, aqueducts (brought water to the city)
• Set up civil service to take care of roads, the grain supple, even a postal service
• Augustus dies at age 76 in A.D. 14, and passes power to Tiberius
• Jesus was a Roman  citizen and a practicing Jew
• At 30, he began his ministry (A.D. 31-33), preaching to the poor
• Statements like "My Kingdom is not of this world" made the Romans (and the Jews) nervous, and they began to plan his execution 
• The Governor of Roman province of Judaea, Pontious Pilate (prompted by Jewish high priests), sentences Jesus to death by crucifixion