Who were the Roman emperors, and how did they impact Roman literature and artistic expression?

The Roman emperors were the rulers of the Roman Empire from the time of Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD. The period of the Roman emperors is generally divided into several different eras, including the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the Flavian dynasty, the Five Good Emperors, and the Severan dynasty, among others. Each of these dynasties and emperors had a unique impact on Roman literature and artistic expression.

Under the Julio-Claudian dynasty, which included emperors such as Augustus, Tiberius, and Nero, Roman literature and art experienced a period of great creativity and innovation. The Flavian dynasty, which included emperors such as Vespasian and Titus, saw the construction of many impressive buildings and structures, including the Colosseum.

During the Five Good Emperors period, which spanned from 96 to 180 AD and included emperors such as Nerva, Trajan, and Marcus Aurelius, Roman literature and art continued to flourish. The Severan dynasty, which included emperors such as Septimius Severus and Caracalla, saw a return to the more authoritarian rule of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, but also saw the continuation of many of the artistic and literary traditions that had been established earlier.