Ancient Rome

===Flavian dynasty===
[[File:Vespasianus01 pushkin edit.png|thumb|upright|Bust of [[Vespasian]], founder of the [[Flavian dynasty]]]]
The [[Flavian dynasty|Flavians]] were the second dynasty to rule Rome.<ref name="suetonius">Suetonius</ref> By 68&nbsp;AD, the year of Nero's death, there was no chance of a return to the [[Roman Republic]], and so a new emperor had to arise. After the turmoil in the [[Year of the Four Emperors]], [[Vespasian|Titus Flavius Vespasianus]] (anglicised as Vespasian) took control of the empire and established a new dynasty. Under the Flavians, Rome continued its expansion, and the state remained secure.<ref>{{Harvnb|O'Connell|1989|page=[https://archive.org/details/ofarmsmenhisto00ocon/page/81 81]}}; {{Cite web |last=Kreis |first=Stephen |title=Augustus Caesar and the Pax Romana |url=http://www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture12b.html |access-date=21 March 2007 |website=The History Guide}}</ref> Under Trajan, the Roman Empire reached the peak of its territorial expansion.{{Sfn| Scarre|1995}} Rome's dominion now spanned {{Convert|5.0|e6km2|e6mi2|abbr=off|sigfig=2}}.<ref name=":0"/>

The most significant [[Campaign history of the Roman military|military campaign]] undertaken during the Flavian period was the [[Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)|siege and destruction]] of [[Jerusalem]] in 70 AD by [[Titus]]. The destruction of the city was the culmination of the Roman campaign in [[Judea (Roman province)|Judea]] following the Jewish uprising of 66 AD. The Second Temple was completely demolished, after which Titus' soldiers proclaimed him ''[[imperator]]'' in honour of the victory. Jerusalem was sacked and much of the population killed or dispersed. [[Josephus]] claims that 1,100,000 people were killed during the siege, of whom a majority were Jewish.<ref>Josephus, The Wars of the Jews VI.9.3</ref> 97,000 were captured and [[Slavery in ancient Rome|enslaved]], including [[Simon bar Giora]] and [[John of Giscala]]. Many fled to areas around the Mediterranean.

Vespasian was a general under [[Claudius]] and [[Nero]] and fought as a commander in the [[First Jewish-Roman War]]. Following the turmoil of the [[Year of the Four Emperors]], in 69&nbsp;AD, four emperors were enthroned in turn: [[Galba]], [[Otho]], [[Vitellius]], and, lastly, Vespasian, who crushed Vitellius' forces and became emperor.<ref name="Suetonius Vespasian">{{Cite book |last=[[Suetonius]] |url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Vespasian*.html |title=The Twelve Caesars: Vespasian}}</ref> He reconstructed many buildings which were uncompleted, like a statue of [[Apollo]] and the temple of ''[[Claudius|Divus Claudius]]'' ("the deified Claudius"), both initiated by Nero. Buildings destroyed by the [[Great Fire of Rome]] were rebuilt, and he revitalised the [[Capitoline Hill|Capitol]]. Vespasian started the construction of the Flavian Amphitheater, commonly known as the [[Colosseum]].<ref name="Suetonius Vespasian"/> The historians [[Josephus]] and [[Pliny the Elder]] wrote their works during Vespasian's reign. Vespasian was Josephus' sponsor and Pliny dedicated his ''[[Naturalis Historia]]'' to Titus, son of Vespasian. Vespasian sent legions to defend the eastern frontier in [[Cappadocia]], extended the occupation in Britannia (modern-day England, Wales and southern [[Scotland]]) and reformed the tax system. He died in 79&nbsp;AD.

Titus became emperor in 79. He finished the Flavian Amphitheater, using war spoils from the First Jewish-Roman War, and hosted victory games that lasted for a hundred days. These games included [[Gladiator|gladiatorial combats]], horse races and a sensational mock naval battle on the flooded grounds of the Colosseum.<ref>[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/66*.html#ref7] Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'', LXVI.; [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Titus*.html#ref9] Suetonius, ''The Twelve Caesars'', ''Titus'', VII, 3.</ref> Titus died of fever in 81&nbsp;AD, and was succeeded by his brother [[Domitian]]. As emperor, Domitian showed the characteristics of a [[tyrant]].<ref>[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Domitian*.html#ref53] Suetonius, ''The Twelve Caesars'', ''Domitian'', X.</ref> He ruled for fifteen years, during which time he acquired a reputation for self-promotion as a living god. He constructed at least two temples in honour of Jupiter, the supreme deity in [[Religion in ancient Rome|Roman religion]].<ref>[http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/domitian-index.html Titus Flavius Domitianus]. Retrieved 29 October 2011.</ref> He was murdered following a plot within his own household.