Transcript Ch. 5-2-2
Ch. 5-2-2 The Roman Republic Declines The Roman Republic Declines • Rome fell into several civil wars • Who is to be in control? • Senate? • Popular political leaders? • Slave revolts became • Military leaders had their own individual armies = power Julius Caesar the Dictator • Ambitious military commander • Caesar and Pompey dominated Roman politics • 58 B.C. Caesar went out to conquer • Conquered Gaul (today France and Belgium) • Pompey asked the Senate to disband Caesar’s army and have him return to Rome Caesar Continued • Caesar did not listen to the order • Crossed the Rubicon River into northern Italy • Headed to Rome • Caesar crushed Pompey and his supporters • He declared “Veni, vidi, vici” • Forced the Senate to make him dictator, though he had full control and power Caesar Makes Reforms • Between 48 B.C. and 44 B.C. Caesar pushed some reform • Used public works • To help unemployed and gave land to poor • Granted Roman citizenship to more people • Introduced the Julian calendar, still used for the most part today Caesar Killed, War Follows • Enemies worried he wanted to become King of Rome • To save the Republic, he had to die • March of 44 B.C. • Caesar stabbed to death • Civil war followed • Mark Antony and Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew) hunted down the killers Caesar Killed Continued • Antony and Octavian would soon fight for power • 31 B.C. Octavian defeated Antony and his ally, Queen Cleopatra of Egypt The Age of the Roman Empire Dawns • Octavian given the title of Augustus or Exalted one • Exercised absolute power without using the name King • The 500 year Republic was gone, the Roman empire was born Augustus Builds a Stable Government • Left the Senate in place • High-level jobs open to any man • Changes • • • • New coins Census to see who should be taxed Postal service Jobless to work = roads and temples • Worked well for 200 years, but who becomes emperor after death? Emperors Vary • Not all emperors were good • Nero and Caligula were possibly insane • Caligula - appointed his horse as consul • Nero persecuted Christians and may have set fire to Rome • A.D. 96-A.D. 180, “good emperors” • Hadrian made Roman law, making it the same for all provinces • Marcus Aurelius liked philosophy, ruled as such Compare • Pg. 159 • Republic vs. Empire The Pax Romana Brings Prosperity • 200 years from Augustus to Marcus Aurelius • “Roman Peace” • Ruled an area equal to the continental U.S. • Traded everywhere along roads, like the Great Silk Road to China The Distraction of Entertainment • Circus Maximus • Rome’s largest racecourse for chariots • Coliseum • Gladiator contest • Man vs. man, man vs. animal, and animal vs. animal • Could earn freedom if good • Mostly paid for by taxes