How Did Nero Build An Empire

The city of Rome was founded in 753 B.C.E and blossomed into a successful Republic, covering the entire Italian peninsula, stretching to cover North Africa, Spain and what is now Southern France. The Republic ended in 27 B.C.E and established an Empire with the assassination of Julius Caesar. From here, Rome had many emperors, leading Rome to expand even further than the Republic. Many of these great emperors were just that; great. Others were corrupt or entirely insane. Ruling between 54 C.E and 68 C.E, Emperor Nero was a compulsive and corrupt leader during the early years of the Roman Empire. Nero was born on December 15, 37 C.E to his father Domitius. At the age of two, Emperor Caligula exiled his own sister and Nero 's mother Agrippina the Younger because of a plot she was involved in to assassinate the Emperor. A year later, Nero 's father died and his inheritance was seized by the state. Caligula was assassinated in 41 C.E, and was succeeded by Claudius, who called Agrippina back from her exile. Eight years later she married Claudius, and a year after that …show more content…
Someone once said "When I am dead, be earth consumed by fire," to which Nero responded "Nay, rather while I live." Nero was displeased by the ugliness of the old buildings, and the narrow streets, so he openly set fire to the city of Rome. For six days and seven nights the fire destroyed the city, while citizens fled to monuments and tombs for shelter. Many houses of leaders and temples dedicated to the Pagan gods were burned. Some say Nero played the fiddle while he watched the destruction of Rome. This, however, is not true; but while the city burned, he said, in "the beauty of the flames," he sang the "Sack of Ilium," in stage costume. He promised to clean up the debris and bodies so long as no one approached the ruins of his own property. He nearly bankrupted the provinces demanding contributions to rebuild the