Transcript Fall of the Roman Republic And Rise of the Roman Empire

FALL OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
AND
RISE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
ARISTOCRATS
As Rome grew,
the aristocrats
grew richer, and
the poor grew
poorer
 The rich lived on
large estates (or
farms) where up
to thousands of
slaves worked

SLAVERY
Slaves in Rome were often conquered people
 Slavery was not based on race
 Slaves had to work on the large estates
 Slaves made up 1/3 the population

URBANIZATION
Small farmers could not compete with these
large estates
 Many were retired soldiers
 Some small farmers sold their farms
and worked for the
aristocrats

 Many
quit farming
and moved to
the city to find work
INFLATION

To add to the troubles,
the Romans created too
much currency.
 Prices
of goods and
services increased while
wages (pay) stayed the
same

Called inflation
POWERFUL GENERALS
The most powerful politicians (Patricians) are
also the most powerful generals
 These generals started to recruit and pay their
own armies from the poor people

 Those
armies loyal to the general, not the Republic
JULIUS CAESAR
Brilliant general
 Conquered Gaul (France)
for Rome
 Fought with his men,
they were dedicated to
him

FIRST TRIUMVIRATE
Caesar teamed up with Crassus and Pompey to
dominate the Republic as the First Triumvirate
 The Roman Senate worried that Caesar was
becoming too popular and powerful
 They ordered him to disband his army and
return to Rome

Caesar
Pompey
Crassus
CROSSING THE RUBICON
Caesar defied the order and
marched his men across
the Rubicon River, and into
Rome
 Defeated other members of
the triumvirate
 Took power and was named
dictator for life

 Ruled
with total power
CAESAR’S REFORMS
Expanded citizenship to provinces
 Created jobs by building
government buildings
 Increased soldiers’ pay
 Very popular with the
people

CAESAR ASSASSINATED

The Roman senate became worried about
Caesar again
 Some

considered him a tyrant
Several Senators, including Marcus Brutus and
Gaius Cassius, assassinated him by stabbing
him to death (Ides of March)
OCTAVIAN
Caesar’s nephew and adopted son
 Very shrewd politician
 After Caesar’s assassination,
Rome broke into civil war.
 Octavian emerged as one of
the most powerful Romans

SECOND TRIUMVIRATE
Octavian teamed up with Lepidus and Marc
Antony to defeat Caesar’s enemies and take
control of the Republic
 Eventually Octavian became the most powerful,
defeating Antony and his Egyptian ally
Cleopatra. (Antony and Cleopatra then
committed suicide together). He then forced
Lepidus into exile.

FIRST EMPEROR
When Augustus defeated Antony, he became
Rome‘s first emperor
 Maintained power through control of the army
and through favors
 While the institutions of the republic remained,
they had little real power

FURTHER EXPANSION
WHAT’S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR KINGS?
PAX ROMANA
Roman Peace
 27 BC- 180 AD
 Expansion and solidification of Roman Empire
 Afforded safety and leisure time inside the
empire

 Some
people talk about a Pax Americana since
World War II
ROMAN ROADS

Romans build a network of sophisticated and
durable roads
 Good
for:
 Trade
 Travel
 Moving
armies around
 Communicating with
provinces
ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PAX ROMANA
Uniform system of money/currency
 Peace encourages trade and prosperity

 Trade
inside the empire flourished
 Trade with India and China
SOCIAL IMPACTS OF PAX ROMANA
In such a time of peace, stability returned to
social classes
 Renewed emphasis on the family

GLADIATORS

To control the mass or poor in Rome, the
Romans hosted holidays during which
Gladiators and/or exotic wild animals would
fight each other
POLITICAL IMPACTS OF PAX ROMANA
Uniform rule of law
 Developed civil service
 Expanded control of Europe and Mediterranean
world
