Tuesday's Class 4/29/14

      When Julius Caesar died it was like a crazy search for a leader.  People were looking all over the place for someone who take his spot as leader.  His grand nephew Octavian and he took over for Caesar.  This is the crucial moment in Roman history when it switches from being a three house form over government to an empire.

- Octavian - AKA Caesar Augustus

- August - Means to be honored

- He took over at the age of 18

- Augustus is the first to change it from a Republic to an Empire

- Built roads, aqueducts (brought water to the cities)

- Set up civil service to take care of roads, the grain supply, even a postal service

- Augustus dies at age 76 in A.D. 14, and passes power to...

- Jesus was a Roman citizen and a practicing Jew

- At 30, he began his ministry (A.D. 31-33), preaching to the poor (and there were lots of 'em) in the empire, and reaching out to outsiders

- 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 the Roman province of Judaea, Pontius Pilate (prompted by Jewish high priests), sentences Jesus to death by crucifixion