In the year 14 A.D., Caesar Augustus dies and the Empire stands at a crossroads. Will Rome continue the course set by its first emperor – or return to chaos? A reluctant new emperor confronts mutiny and intrigue. At first, Tiberius struggles to emulate his predecessor, but he soon abandons the effort. His ultimate decline from ascetic ruler to reclusive despot ushers in one of the most notorious rulers of the ancient world: Caligula. As fear and conspiracy grip Rome, crisis roils the provinces. In Judaea, a charismatic leader named Jesus challenges the religious and political establishment. The local furor barely touches Rome but the legacy of Jesus will one day engulf the empire.