Roman empire
Roman Empire Imperial Rome A period of unrest and civil wars in the 1st century BC marked the transition of Rome from a republic to an empire. This period encompassed the career of Julius Caesar , who eventually took full power over Rome as its dictator. After his assassination in 44 BCE , the triumvirate of Mark Antony , Lepidus , and Octavian, Caesar’s nephew, ruled. It was not long before Octavian went to war against Antony in northern Africa, and after his victory at Actium (31 BCE ) he was crowned Rome’s first emperor, Augustus . His reign, from 27 BCE to 14 CE , was distinguished by stability and peace. Augustus established a form of government known as a principate, which combined some elements from the republic with the traditional powers of a monarchy. The Senate still functioned, though Augustus, as princeps , or first citizen, remained in control of the governmen...