Unit 5: Ancient Rome (Part II)

From Republic to Empire

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After the Punic Wars, Rome conquered new territories in Northern Italy &

gained great wealth

One of the generals who led Rome’s expansion was a

politician named Julius Caesar

Problems for the Roman Republic ■ Rome’s expansion brought wealth,

but also created problems:– The addition of new lands & sources

of slave labor increased the gap between the rich & poor.• New class of landowners owned huge estates

called latifundias.• Farmers faced problems with falling grain

prices farmers in debt forced to sell land.– Generals who controlled the armies became

more powerful than the politicians in the Senate– Struggles for power led to a series

of civil wars in Rome

Attempts at Reform■Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus: tribune

leaders■Attempted to limit land holdings of

aristocrats – land redistribution■Public funds to support the poor.■Called for extension of full citizenship

to Rome’s allies.■Results: Both leaders assassinated■Century of civil war: Senate vs. political

leaders

Civil War

■87 BCE Gaius Marius takes Rome■Lucius Cornelius Sulla drives Marius

out 83 BCE■5 year reign of terror follows,

resulting in the murder or execution of up to 10,000 Marian supporters

The First Triumvirate1) Julius Caesar2) Crassus3) Pompey

Political disagreements led Caesar and Pompey to command rival armies. Caesar defied orders of Senate.

Caesar gained support of army and masses.

The Rise & Fall of Julius Caesar Julius Caesar took

advantage of the chaos

in Rome & was named dictator by the senate

in 46 B.C. He initiated a series of reforms that offered Roman citizenship to conquered people, created new jobs in public works projects and offered land to peasants.

A dictator is ruler who heads the

military and controls with

total authority

Crossing the Rubicon “Veni, Vidi, Vici”

Provided jobs for poor

Army veterans given land

Aligned with the solar year

Libraries, temples & Forum built

Course of Tiber River alteredBuilt roads & bridges to

connect empire

“All roads lead to Rome”

Colonies established for trade

Distributed free grain

In 44 B.C., Senators assassinated Julius Caesar

Many Senators led by Marcus Brutus & Gaius Cassius feared

Caesar’s popularity &

power as dictator of Rome

The assassination led to another civil war led by Caesar’s grandnephew Octavian, his best general, Mark Antony, and a politician named Lepidus.

Second Triumvirate 1) Octavian2) Mark Antony3) Lepidus

• Purged republic of Caesar’s enemies• Mark Antony falls in love with Queen

Cleopatra of Egypt• Octavian accused Antony of wanting to

rule Rome from Egypt• Civil war erupts Octavian becomes

emperor of Rome Republic collapses

End of the Republic & Rise of the Empire ■Caesar’s death changed Rome:

–People no longer trusted the Senate to rule Rome & the Roman Republic came to an end & the empire began

The Rise of the Roman Empire

Octavian emerged as the unchallenged leader of Rome, was given the title Augustus (“Exalted One”), & became

Rome’s first emperor

Under Augustus, Rome was ruled as an empire; the Senate still met but the emperor had

all the real power

Imperial Rome’s GovernmentStable Government

1) Well trained civil service2) Ordered census to make tax system fair3) Postal service4) Developed a well-ordered bureaucracy 5) Common currency throughout empire

The Pax Romana Augustus’ 41 year reign marked the

beginning of a 207-year era of peace, wealth, & expansion known as the Pax

Romana (“the Roman Peace”) from 27 B.C. to 180 A.D.

Pax Romana

During the Pax Romana, the empire expanded to its height & brought great wealth to Rome

The Pax Romana became the “golden age” of Rome as emperors like Augustus built roads & a merit-based bureaucracy to rule the empire

Roman aqueducts brought water to cities

Roman architects used new styles like domes & concrete to beautify cities

Bread and CircusesEmperors built arenas & used chariot races,

gladiator events, & theater to entertain the poor

The Roman Coliseum

Colosseum & Circus Maximus■ Colosseum 80 A.D.

–Held gladiator & animal fights

–Held 50,000 people■ Circus Maximus

–Held chariot races–Held 250,000–Bread and Circus

Policy

Roman Civil Service ■ Rome’s 1st emperor, Augustus, created

several systems to help himself rule the enormous empire better.

■ Augustus set up a civil service, with salaried, experienced workers to take care of the empire.

■ These bureaucrats helped oversee the empire by keeping track of grain, the roads, the postal service and all other things needed to run an empire.

Roman Civil ServiceAnswer these

questions:

1.Why do you think that Augustus formed the civil service?

2.Name 3 civil service jobs that allow the president to do his job better

Conclusions■Rome expanded from a city, to

a republic, to an empire–The era of the Roman

Republic introduced representative democracy

–The era of the Roman Empire sparked the Pax Romana & the “golden age” of Roman innovation & culture

1. Caligula and Nero – playing fiddle while Rome burns

2. Hadrian – codified Roman law, built wall around Britain

3. Marcus Aurelias – Last of the Good Emperors

Roman SocietyChanging Role of Women•Women ran businesses•Supported arts and wealthy•Most worked at home

Education•Girls and Boys read and write•Greeks educated wealthy•Rhetoric important