Vespasian
Building Rome back up
After Nero
After Nero committed suicide, the empire was crime ridden. People saw the absence of a formal leader as the perfect time to pillage. But the people soon realized what that meant, eventually someone would have to pay. So in exchange for not being punished, the miscreants pledged their service to Vespasian, going so far as to stitch his name in all of their banners.
Romancoins.ca. Silver Denarius of Vespasian. Digital image. Roman Coins. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2016.
Recovery
After Vespasian was elected, partly thanks to Otho, recovery was the number one priority. His job was to restore peace, fix the provinces, and recover the financial issues, which were mostly caused by Nero when he debased the Denarius. All the while taking back the public lands, which had been usurped by wealthy landowners over the years.
Titus
Clipart.com. Titus - Roman Emperor Titus. Digital image. Ancient History - Titus. About.com, 24 Feb. 2016. Web. 16 May 2016.
The Colosseum
Kaminesky, Ken. The Colosseum at Night, Rome, Italy. Digital Image. Photographing the Roman Colosseum. Ken Kaminesky Photography, 8 Mar. 2010. Web. 16 May 2016
Vespasian
Ulrich, Roger B. Statue of Vespasian as Hero. Digital image. Baia, Archaeological Museum of the Phlegraean Fields, 2009. Web. 16 May 2016.
Colosseum
Vespasian helped bring Augustus' ultimate dream to life, to build a massive amphitheater. In the middle of Rome, Vespasian designed the Colosseum, or Flavian Amphitheater. This Colosseum would hold the biggest games in Rome for centuries to come. Unfortunately, he didn't live to see his project finish. Now his and his son, Titus' accomplishments are praised all the time, pulling in over 4 million tourists a year.
Citations
Suetonius - Life of Vespasian
Tranquillus, Gaius Suetonius. "The Life of Vespasian." Suetonius • Life of Vespasian. Loeb Classical Library, 7 Aug. 2012. Web. 12 May 2016. Pages 281 - 321
Kamil, Miriam. "The Year of the Four Emperors." Ancient Origins - Human Origins. Ancient Origins, 8 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 May 2016.
History.com Staff. "Nero." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 Jan. 2009. Web. 14 May 2016.
Knox, E.L. Skip. "The Flavian Dynasty - Emperor Vespasian." History of Western Civilization. Boise State University, n.d. Web. 14 May 2016
Comparette, T. Louis. "Indiana Authors and Their Books." Debasement of the Silver Coinage under the Emperor Nero. T.R. Marvin and Sons Printers, 25 Mar. 1914. Web. 15 May 2016.