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Augustus- Master of Leadership. How to Become an Emperor. Great Leaders Series.

Completed by 57 learners
Ages 10-15
Live One-Time Class
We will be learning about how Augustus went from being a little known Roman to becoming the first Roman emperor and his role in the transition from Republic to Empire. This class is another edition of my Great Leader Series, more to come!
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:
(659 reviews)
Popular

Live video meetings
Meets once
2-18 learners per class
55 min

What's included

1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours
Homework
Continuing pondering Augustus and our final discussion question: Why was Augustus' style of leadership, his types of self promotion, and his imagery so often used, even today?

Class Experience

US Grade 5 - 8
Get $5 off my classes with coupon code RAPOPAL6ZN5 until Jan 10, 2022. Look through my classes at https://outschool.com/teachers/Sondra-Rapoport and enter the coupon code at checkout.

The class will begin with me introducing myself and explaining that I am a Roman Historian and I will also explain what a Roman Historian does. I will ask each student to share why they are curious about Augustus.  We will then learn the phrase, Festina Lente (to make haste slowly), as it will pop up several times in this class. That's right, we are going to use a little bit of Latin!

First: What's in a Name? I will give a brief summation of who Augustus was, why his original name is Octavian, and what role he played in Roman society. I will then tell the story of how he was adopted in Julius Caesar's will as his son and why taking name Caesar as his own was so important to his later success.

Second: Aegypta Capta!! Augustus vs Antony and Cleopatra at sea in the Battle of Actium and then later again on land. Now let's enjoy some Pax Romana. How did Augustus defeat Mark Antony? How were sea battles fought in the ancient world? Why was conquering Egypt so significant? What influence did his time in Egypt have on his style of leadership? We will read a small section of Virgil's Aeneid that describes the Battle of Actium. 

Third: From Republic to Empire. Upon returning to Rome, he receives the honorary name, Augustus, from the Roman Senate. And the transition of Rome from brick to marble begins. We will discuss all my favorite building, the Pantheon, it's architecture, symbolism, and why it is still standing in Rome today. We will also discuss the Temple of Mars and the library. Why would a library be such an important part of Augustus' plan to change Rome? Why did Augustus embark on so many building projects? Why would it make him more popular and well known? Can you think of any modern examples of a leader using building projects to popularize himself?

Fourth: Uniform of Power. Augustus sets out to create the imagery and style of leadership and sets the standard for how leaders portrayed themselves throughout the Empire and beyond. We will also discuss the 4 basic leadership areas that an ancient leader must fulfill:  Law-making or legislative, military, moral compass, and spiritual/ religious.  Could he have borrowed some of this from the pharaohs?  Why would a standard look for the emperor be effective and important for success? We will finish this section learning about the 'Universal Theory of Hats', what could that be?

Fifth: Still Awesome. We will discuss how Augustus' influence continues after death, he actually planned for that too. We will briefly discuss the Res Gestae, a list of his accomplishments that was set in bronze and erected around the Empire. Why would he do that at the end of his reign?  We will finish with Augustus becoming a Roman god, which is becoming a trend for the family of Caesar. Why are Roman leaders being declared gods after their death? 

Final question for discussion and further thought: Why was Augustus' style of leadership, his types of self promotion, and his imagery so often used, even today?

Other Details

Parental Guidance
I will be speaking live to the students as well as using a wide variety of slides from my travels around the world. I welcome questions before, during, and after the class. A class that interacts with the material learns it at a deeper level and I welcome questions at any time during the class. Each class will begin with a main question or idea for the students to keep in mind, as they will see the theme reappear. The classes will all end with guided discussion based upon the main question and any interesting questions or comments. This will not be ‘dead air’ time, students will be encouraged to share their thoughts and questions. All photographs are my own.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

Meet the teacher

Joined February, 2021
4.8
659reviews
Popular
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Hello! I’m Sondra Rapoport, your friendly neighborhood Roman Historian. I taught with Harvard University's Dept of Classics for 6 years as a Head Teaching Fellow. I was privileged to teach the popular and historic The Rome of Augustus for which I was nominated for the Levenson Teaching Award and won awards for distinction in teaching each semester I taught with Harvard. Now, I homeschool my son and I greatly enjoy adapting my knowledge and classes designed for university level to each of his grade levels. 

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