THE FALL OF THE REPUBLICChapter 8, Section 3

Pg. 277-283

Trouble in the Republic Problem building homes Dishonest officials stole money Gap between the rich and the poor Farmers faced ruin Cities became overcrowded an dagerous

Rich VS Poor Many Romans were farmers of small plots

of land. In the 100s B.C. the began to sink in to

debt. Why?? Many were fighting in Rome’s war and could

not tend to their land Others had suffered damage to their farm

during Hannibal’s invasion of Italy Most of all small farmers could not compete

with wealthy Romans buying land to create latifundia

Latifundia Is a large farming estate There was a new source of labor used to

farm the land. Prisoners brought to Italy during the

wars. This forced small farms out of business

Moving to the City They famers moved to the city but had trouble

finding jobs due to the slaves working for free. If they were lucky to get hirer they worked for

low wages. This created a widespread anger among the

Romans Roman politicians began to worry and turned

the situation to their advantage by winning the votes of the poor.

They provided cheep food and entertainment called “bread and circuses”

Why did reform Fail? Brothers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus

believed many of Rome’s problems came from the loss of small farms.

They asked the Senate to give back the public land and divided it among the Romans

The Senates however were investors of the public land and did not was to loss their wealth

The senators killed Tiberius in 133 B.C. and 12 years later killed Gaius

The Army Enters Politics A military leader named Marius changed

the way of the military. Because soldiers were small farm owners

these men were beginning to drifting way.

Marius began to recruit soldiers from the poor and in return afford them wages and promised land.

Soldiers began to be motivated by materials then by a sense of duty.

New Military System Soldiers began to become loyal to

generals not the Roman Republic This lead to military becoming involved in

politics to get laws passed to provided promise land to the soldiers

However this new system lead to power struggles.

Marius was faced with a rival from a general within his army Sulla

Sulla Sulla drove his enemies out of Rome in

82 B.C. and made himself dictator. Over the next three years he changed the

government. Weakened the Council of the Plebs and

strengthened the Senate After he stepped down Rom plunged in to

an ear of civil wars for the next 50 years.

What Changes did Marius make to the Roman Army??

Stop and Think

What Changes did Marius make to the Roman Army?? Marius changed Rome’s army from citizen

volunteer to paid professional. They were loyal to their generals, not to the republic.

Stop and Think

Julius Caesar After Sulla left office Roman leaders battled

for power In 60 B.C. three men were at the top:

Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar Crassus was one of the richest men in Rome Pompey and Caesar were not as rich but

successful military men These three formed the First Triumvirate to

rule Rome A political alliance of three people

First Triumvirate The three men had a military command

in remote area of the republic Pompey was in Spain Crassus in Syria Caesar in Gaul (Today’s France)

Caesar’s Military Campaign

Caesar became a hero to Rome’s lower class. Senator and others feared he would become

to popular and seize power like Sulla Crassus was killed in batter in 53 B.C. In 49

B.C. Senate decided Pompey should return to rule Rome.

Orders were given to Caesar to give up his army and come home.

He had a decision to make come home and risk being killed by his rivals or stay with his army and risk a civil war….

Caesar’s Dicision Caesar decided to stay loyal to his 5,000

soldiers. Caesar and his army marched into Italy

by crossing the Rubicon, a small river at the southern boundary.

Pompey tried to stop Caesar; however, he drove Pompey’s forces from Italy and then destroyed his army in Greece is 48 B.C.

Caesar’s Rise to Power 44 B.C. Caesar declared himself dictator

of Rome for life. To strengthen his hold of power he filled

the Senate with new members who were loyal to him

He created a new calendar with 12 months, 365 days, and a leap year.

This was called the Julian calendar and was used throughout Europe until A.D. 1582

Becoming Popular with the Poor

Caesar was aware that Rome needed Reform

He granted citizenship to people living in Rome’s territories outside the Italian peninsula

Started new colonies to provided land for the landless and work for the jobless

He ordered landowners using slave labor to hire more free workers

Caesar’s Enemies Many believed Caesar was a strong

leader and brought peace and order to Rome.

Others feared he would want to become King

Of these enemies were Brutus and Cassius who plotted to kill him

On March 15 44 B.C. Caesar was stabbed to death by his enemies at the Senate building.

Rome Becoming an Empire After Caesar’s Death Rome dove into

another Civil War On side was lead by the men who had

killed Caesar The other side was Caesar’s

grandnephew Octavian Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus created

the Second Triumvirate in 43 B.C.

The Second Triumvirate These three men began fighting at once Octavian soon forced Lepidus to retire from

politics Octavian took the West and Antony took the

East Antony fell in love with the Egyptian queen

Cleopatra Vii and formed and alliance Octavian told the Romans that this alliance

was to make Antony sole ruler of the republic This lead to the Romans and Octavian to

declare war on Antony

Battle of Actium This battle took place in 31 B.C. off the west

coast of Greece. Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra’s

army and navy The couple fled to Egypt a year later killing

themselves before Octavian reached them. This made Octavian at the age of 32 at the

top of the Roman world. The civil wars and republic was over and

Octavian set a new system of government call the Roman Empire

Octavian’s Rule Octavian chose not to make himself dictator for

life as his great uncle had. He know the people favored a republican form of government

Cicero a political leader, writer, and rome’s greatest public speaker encouraged this decision

Octavian gave some power to the Senate and the rest of the power to himself. His title became imperator meaning commander in chief later to be called emperor.

He then changed his name to Augustus

Who was the First Triumvirate??

Who was the Second Triumvirate??

Stop and Think

Who was the First Triumvirate?? Crassus, Pompey, Julius Caesar

Who was the Second Triumvirate?? Octavian, Antony, Lepidus

Stop and Think