Transcript From Republic to Empire

From Republic to Empire
From Republic to Empire
• Rome began to build their empire
around the Mediterranean Sea
• While doing this, Rome ran into
conflict with Carthage
• Carthage is located in North Africa
Punic Wars 264 BC – 146 BC
• Carthage and Rome’s battles were known
as the Punic Wars
• First battle was won by the Romans
• Second battle was won by the
Carthaginians in the beginning
– Carthage led by the great General Hannibal
– However, the Romans fought off Hannibal
and defended their homeland by attacking
Map of the Region
Punic Wars
• The third Punic War completely
destroyed the city of Carthage
– Romans poured salt over the all of
Carthage
– Survivors were killed or sold into slavery
Imperialism
• After the Punic Wars, Rome
began aggressive
imperialism. They expanded
into the eastern
Mediterranean, taking over
all of Alexander the Great’s
land.
• One by one city-states
became provinces of Rome.
Greece, Egypt, Macedonia,
and parts of Asia Minor all
surrendered to Rome
• They eventually called the
Mediterranean: Mare
Nostrum, which means “our
sea” in Latin.
Roman Empire
• Trade grew more important with the
wealthy
– important products from the East
• Slave labor grew as well; mostly the
conquered became slaves
Roman Empire
• The rich got richer and poor got
poorer
- big gap between the two; created mobs
• Reformers sought to help the mobs
- got themselves killed for trying to help
• Unable to resolve its problems, Rome
plunged into a series of Civil Wars
• The Roman Empire now
stretched from Spain to Egypt.
• After imperialism began, policies
on how to run the empire caused
civil wars throughout the land.
– Social unrest between farmers and
estate owners started.
• New and fast wealth had led to
corruption.
• The Senate saw only one way to
solve the problem – put in place
a dictator.
• This dictator was Julius Caesar.
Caesar’s Rise
• After a failed attempt of reform by
2 brothers within the Senate,
Rome denied its republic and
relied on a general they believed
in.
• Caesar quickly made reforms and
quelled the civil wars.
• He created a calendar based on
Egyptian knowledge and
reorganized the government.
• He granted citizenship to more
people and set up public works
programs.
Caesar’s Fall
• Caesar was in fact the absolute ruler of Rome-out of fear
that a monarchy would be set up the senate acted.
• In hopes to “save the republic” Caesar’s enemies plotted
to stab him to death upon arriving to Senate.
• He was assassinated in 44 B.C., which caused another
round of civil wars.
Et tu, Brute?
• From the Shakespeare play- Julius Caesar
• Perhaps the most famous three words uttered in literature, "Et tu,
Brute?" (Even you, Brutus?) this expression has come down in
history to mean the ultimate betrayal by one's closest friend. This
scene, in which the conspirators in the Senate assassinate Caesar,
is one of the most dramatic moments on the Shakespearean stage.
The audience has just witnessed the arrogance of a ruler who has
sought, within a republic, to become a monarch, comparing himself
to the gods. Brutus, a friend of Caesar and yet a man who loves
Rome (and freedom) more, has joined the conspirators in the
assassination, a betrayal which is captured by the three words
above in this famous Shakespeare quote.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPwlVkNvL7g&index=5&list=PL
kuHf6styxtHDUoOwdKTUk7xO3SrRXouk
Impact of Caesar’s Death
• Even though the great Roman leader had died,
he still had a lasting effect on Rome.
• His death led to the formation of the Roman
Empire, lead by the emperor Octavius, later
called Augustus, meaning “exalted one”.