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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?