2. Augustus

Augustus was born as Octavian, son of a rich Roman banker. His great-uncle Julius Caesar adopted him and made him his heir. After Caesar’s death, Octavian formed an army to fight against Mark Antony, who took over control of Rome from Caesar. The two men came to an agreement and shared control of the Roman Empire. They also defeated Caesar’s murderers. When Octavian found out about the love relationship between Mark Antony and Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, he saw this as a threat to the Roman Empire and turned against Antony. After Antony’s death, Octavian was given the name Augustus and became Rome’s first emperor.

Under his reign, Augustus expanded Rome’s territory. He conquered the Iberian Peninsula and pushed the boundaries of the Roman Empire north to the Danube River. He also gave orders to restore old buildings that needed repair and built roads to the outskirts of the empire.

After his death, Augustus was worshipped in Rome because of his successful reign .


Augustus

Bust of Augustus
Image : © Marie-Lan Nguyen / Main Page / CC-BY 2.5



Words

  • adopt = to take someone else's child into your home and become its parents
  • agreement = arrangement, deal
  • boundary = line that separates two countries or areas
  • conquer = to take control of an area by fighting
  • emperor = king or queen who rules over many countries
  • expand = to make larger
  • heir = a person who will take over something after you die or who will get everything that belongs to you
  • Iberian = about Spain and Portugal
  • outskirts = outer areas, places that are far away from the centre
  • peninsula = land with water on three sides
  • reign = time in power
  • restore = rebuild, repair
  • territory = land
  • threat = danger
  • worship = pray to someone and admire them