Julius Caesar was a Late Republic statesman and general who waged civil war against the Roman Senate, defeating many patrician conservatives before he declared himself dictator.
Augustus rose to power after Julius Caesar's assassination through a series of political and military maneuvers, eventually establishing himself as the first emperor of Rome.
The Pax Romana, which began under Augustus, was a 200-year period of peace in which Rome experienced minimal expansion by military forces.
The Julio-Claudian emperors expanded the boundaries of the Roman Empire and engaged in ambitious construction projects, but met with mixed public reception due to their unique ruling methods.
Nero’s consolidation of personal power led to rebellion, civil war, and a year-long period of upheaval during which four separate emperors ruled Rome.