087- Thinking and Feeling
With Roman education leaving much to be desired, many citizens found enlightenment in the eastern mystery cults or Greek philosophy.
15 Mar 201027min
086- Wealth and Class
The Roman world was divided between slaves, freedmen, and free citizens of every economic class. Gross inequality though was the order of the day, with the Emperor himself controlling the lion's share...
8 Mar 201026min
085- Antoninus the Dutiful
Antoninus's reign is often pointed to as the golden age of the Roman Empire. In many ways the assessment is correct, though unresolved issues would come back to haunt his successors.
1 Mar 201027min
084- Longing For Death
After returning to Italy in 134 Hadrian spent a final few miserable years trying to plan the long term future of the Imperial dynasty before dying in 138.
1 Mar 201027min
083- May His Bones Be Crushed
Hadrian's relationship with the teenage boy Antinous raised eyebrows even in permissive Ancient Rome. His relationship with the Jews raises eyebrows even today.
1 Mar 201025min
082- Hadrian's Walls
Hadrian's reign got off to a rough start following the political murders of four ex-consuls. The new Emperor would eventually settle in though and set out on his first grand tour of the Empire in 121.
1 Mar 201027min
081- The Greekling
Though Hadrian's career had long been guided by Trajan, when the Emperor died in 117 he still had not named Hadrian heir.
1 Mar 201022min
080- Optimus Trajan
Trajan greatly improved the infrastructure of the Empire and finished his reign by conquering much of the Middle East.
1 Mar 201021min
