The church was growing like wildfire. In the wake of imprisonment and death for Christians, many others were springing to life in their place.

Resistance to Roman rule was broken with the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra, a turning point in Roman history. The 3000-year Ptolemaic dynasty ended. Egypt lost independence and became a Roman province, and Rome itself changed from a republic to an empire.

Through “leagues of friendship” and political alliances, Rome’s foundation was laid . . .

But as soon as he was in full power, his suspicious, insecure nature took over. Thousands were executed at the slightest perception of a threat to his power.

It was during the reign of Augustus Caesar that Rome reached the pinnacle of its greatness.

The conspirators defended themselves, claiming they were acting on behalf of the Roman Republic. After the murder, the Senate changed the name of his birth month from Quintilis to July in his honor. Nevertheless, Julius Caesar’s assassination sparked a series of civil wars that paved the way for his adopted son Octavian, actually a great-nephew, to rise to power.