About Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius ruled Rome from 161 to181 A.D. His reign was considered to be legendary that he become known as one of the last "Five Good Emperors of Rome”.
Early Life:
Marcus Aurelius was born on April 26, 16 121 A.D. As a child he was schooled in Greek philosophy Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Zeno, and Epictetus .Their teachings influenced him greatly, by having a profound affect on him he became a stoic philosopher himself. Under Stoicism Aurelius became an actively engaged disciple. Stoics believed people's emotions could lead to the destruction of the self, and to all humanity. Marcus agreed by suppressing emotions like jealousy, envy, anger, and fear he could became indifferent to pleasure or pain, which would allow the self to be preserved. Some of his stoic concepts can be found in his journal, Meditations. His journal is a series of personal writings that discuss his thoughts and philosophies.
Becoming Emperor:
Upon Antonius Pius' death in 161 A.D. Marcus Aurelius and his cousin Verus became the emperors of Rome. While ruler, Marcus Aurelius made it illegal to kill a slave unjustly and to sell him/her to the entrepreneurs of the gladiatorial games. He also established stricter laws concerning guardianship over orphans, and established schools for woman. Although he had many prosperous moments, Rome suffered greatly under his rule. Marcus Aurelius wages constant war on Germanic tribes lasted from 166 to 180 A.D. In 165 A.D. roman troops who had come back from campaigning in the Middle East brought a deadly infection, later known as the Antonine plague. This plague killed more than thirty percent of the population. In 177 A.D. in Lyons, France Christians were tortured, imprisoned and killed under Marcus Aurelius' request.
Meditations:
Marcus Aurelius wrote, Meditations over the course of his life. His work, which was was a series of personal writings, written in Greek discuss his moral precepts. His stoic philosophies can be found in all tweleve books explaining his belief that stoicism leads a man to tranquil happiness.
Early Life:
Marcus Aurelius was born on April 26, 16 121 A.D. As a child he was schooled in Greek philosophy Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Zeno, and Epictetus .Their teachings influenced him greatly, by having a profound affect on him he became a stoic philosopher himself. Under Stoicism Aurelius became an actively engaged disciple. Stoics believed people's emotions could lead to the destruction of the self, and to all humanity. Marcus agreed by suppressing emotions like jealousy, envy, anger, and fear he could became indifferent to pleasure or pain, which would allow the self to be preserved. Some of his stoic concepts can be found in his journal, Meditations. His journal is a series of personal writings that discuss his thoughts and philosophies.
Becoming Emperor:
Upon Antonius Pius' death in 161 A.D. Marcus Aurelius and his cousin Verus became the emperors of Rome. While ruler, Marcus Aurelius made it illegal to kill a slave unjustly and to sell him/her to the entrepreneurs of the gladiatorial games. He also established stricter laws concerning guardianship over orphans, and established schools for woman. Although he had many prosperous moments, Rome suffered greatly under his rule. Marcus Aurelius wages constant war on Germanic tribes lasted from 166 to 180 A.D. In 165 A.D. roman troops who had come back from campaigning in the Middle East brought a deadly infection, later known as the Antonine plague. This plague killed more than thirty percent of the population. In 177 A.D. in Lyons, France Christians were tortured, imprisoned and killed under Marcus Aurelius' request.
Meditations:
Marcus Aurelius wrote, Meditations over the course of his life. His work, which was was a series of personal writings, written in Greek discuss his moral precepts. His stoic philosophies can be found in all tweleve books explaining his belief that stoicism leads a man to tranquil happiness.