Transcript Collapse of the Roman Republic & Civil War

Collapse of the Roman
Republic & Civil War
I. Problems of Roman
Expansion
• 133 BCE: epansion = problems
A. Government
• Republican govt.
• Senate gained power
• Conquered territories = provinces
– Denied citizenship
• Proconsul/Propraetor
• Publicans (tax collectors in Rome)
B. Economic Turmoil
• Wealth gap!
• Latifundias
– 100 BCE: 1/3 of pop. enslaved
– Life of slaves (Spartacus)
• Small farmers could not compete
• Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus (reforms)
• Tiberius (133 BCE—tribune)
– Limited amount of Senators public land
– Landless citizens worked confiscated
land
• Popular w/masses, not senators!
– Clubbed him to death
• Gaius (tribune in 123 & 122)
– Used public $ to purchase grains for poor
• Upset senators
• Killed in a riot
C. Marius & Sulla
• Gaius Marius (107 BCE: elected consul)
– Revolutionized the Roman army
• Anyone could be in legions
– Received pay & spoils
• Replaced army of draftees w/volunteer army
– Provided opps. thru the military
– Armies became loyal to leaders
• Lucius Cornelius Sulla (88 BCE—consul)
– Triumphed in civil war w/Marius
– 82-79 = dictator
– Restored power to senate
D. The First Triumvirate
• Julius Caesar (nephew of Marius)
– Left Rome until after Sulla’s death (78)
– Joined w/Gaius Pompey & Licinius
Crassus (60)
• The First Triumvirate (Caesar, Pompey,
Crassus)
– 59: Caesar became consul
E. Caesar in Power
• Served 1 year as consul
• Obtained command in Gaul (France)
– Brought Gaul under Roman rule
• Crassus died in 53 BCE
• Pompey was jealous of Caesar
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Persuaded Senate to order Caesar home w/out army
Caesar led army toward Rome in 49 BCE
Fled to Greece allowing Caesar to take Rome
Caesar took Italy, Spain, Egypt, & Greece
• 46 BCE: Caesar returned to Rome
– Appointed dictator for life
1. Caesar’s Reforms
• Roman citizenship to many in provinces
• Land to vets. & grain to poor
• Reduced influence of Senate (advisory
council)
• Work relief programs for poor
• Increased pay for soldiers
• Senators conspired against Caesar
• Gaius Cassius Longinus & Marcus Brutus
• March 15, 44 BCE: Caesar assassinated
F. The Second
Triumvirate
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Civil war broke out
Octavian, Marc Antony, Lepidus
Octavian forced Lepidus to retire
Octavian & Antony = rivals
– Civil war
– Battle of Actium (31 BCE)
• Octavian = “princeps” or “first citizen”
• 27 BCE: Augustus or “exalted one”
– Augustus Caesar—first Roman emperor
• Rule by one man!
II. A Vast & Powerful
Empire
• Augustus launched military conquests
• Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”)
– 27 BCE to 180 CE (207 yrs.)
– Farming, manufacturing, & trade prospered
– Pop. = 60-80 mill. (1 mill. in Rome)
A. A Sound Govt.
• Augustus = Rome’s ablest ruler
– Stabilized the frontier
– Est. a civil service (paid govt. workers)
• Drawn from plebeians
– 14 CE: Augustus died—govt. maintained
empire’s stability
B. The Julio-Claudians
(bad emperors)
• Relatives of Julius Caesar ruled for
54 yrs. (14-68 CE)
• Tiberius (14-37)
• Caligula (37-41)
• Claudius (41-54)
• Nero (54-68)
C. The Good Emperors
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Nerva (96-98)
Trajan (98-117)
Hadrian (117-138)
Antonius Pius (138-161)
Marcus Aurelias (161-180)
III. The Roman World
• Romans were practical
• Ag. was MOST IMPORTANT!
– 90% of pop.
– Most lived on local produce…wealthy
could import
– Denarius
• Rome’s trade:
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Many opps. for commerce
Tariffs were low
Denarius = Roman currency
Rome & Alexandria
Provinces = grain, meat, wool, hides
Asia = silks, linens, glass, jewelry, furniture
• India?
– Transportation improved “All roads lead to
Rome”
A. Slavery
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Slaves = 1/3 of Roman pop.
Conquered peoples (property)
Worked both in cities & farms
Treated cruelly
Healthy males = GLADIATORS
B. Society & Culture
• Rich lived very extravagantly
– Villas, slaves, gardens, luxuries
• Most were poor
– High unemployment
– Govt. supported w/rations of grain
– Lived in crowded tenements
• Govt. provided entertainment
– 250: 150 holidays/yr.
– Colosseum – gladiator games
• Animal shows (exotic animals)
• Gladiators fought animals and/or each other