Ch. 5-2-2

The Roman Republic Declines

The Roman Republic Declines

The Roman Republic Declines

• Rome fell into several civil wars

• Who is to be in control?• Senate?• Popular political leaders?

• Slave revolts became• Military leaders had their own individual armies = power

• Rome fell into several civil wars

• Who is to be in control?• Senate?• Popular political leaders?

• Slave revolts became• Military leaders had their own individual armies = power

Julius Caesar the Dictator

Julius Caesar the Dictator

• Ambitious military commander• Caesar and Pompey dominated Roman politics

• 58 B.C. Caesar went out to conquer• Conquered Gaul (today France and Belgium)

• Pompey asked the Senate to disband Caesar’s army and have him return to Rome

• Ambitious military commander• Caesar and Pompey dominated Roman politics

• 58 B.C. Caesar went out to conquer• Conquered Gaul (today France and Belgium)

• Pompey asked the Senate to disband Caesar’s army and have him return to Rome

Caesar ContinuedCaesar Continued

• Caesar did not listen to the order• Crossed the Rubicon River into northern Italy

• Headed to Rome• Caesar crushed Pompey and his supporters

• He declared “Veni, vidi, vici”• Forced the Senate to make him dictator, though he had full control and power

• Caesar did not listen to the order• Crossed the Rubicon River into northern Italy

• Headed to Rome• Caesar crushed Pompey and his supporters

• He declared “Veni, vidi, vici”• Forced the Senate to make him dictator, though he had full control and power

Caesar Makes ReformsCaesar Makes Reforms

• Between 48 B.C. and 44 B.C. Caesar pushed some reform

• Used public works• To help unemployed and gave land to poor

• Granted Roman citizenship to more people

• Introduced the Julian calendar, still used for the most part today

• Between 48 B.C. and 44 B.C. Caesar pushed some reform

• Used public works• To help unemployed and gave land to poor

• Granted Roman citizenship to more people

• Introduced the Julian calendar, still used for the most part today

Caesar Killed, War Follows

Caesar Killed, War Follows

• Enemies worried he wanted to become King of Rome

• To save the Republic, he had to die• March of 44 B.C.• Caesar stabbed to death• Civil war followed

• Mark Antony and Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew) hunted down the killers

• Enemies worried he wanted to become King of Rome

• To save the Republic, he had to die• March of 44 B.C.• Caesar stabbed to death• Civil war followed

• Mark Antony and Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew) hunted down the killers

Caesar Killed Continued

Caesar Killed Continued

• Antony and Octavian would soon fight for power

• 31 B.C. Octavian defeated Antony and his ally, Queen Cleopatra of Egypt

• Antony and Octavian would soon fight for power

• 31 B.C. Octavian defeated Antony and his ally, Queen Cleopatra of Egypt

The Age of the Roman Empire Dawns

The Age of the Roman Empire Dawns

• Octavian given the title of Augustus or Exalted one

• Exercised absolute power without using the name King

• The 500 year Republic was gone, the Roman empire was born

• Octavian given the title of Augustus or Exalted one

• Exercised absolute power without using the name King

• The 500 year Republic was gone, the Roman empire was born

Augustus Builds a Stable GovernmentAugustus Builds a Stable Government

• Left the Senate in place• High-level jobs open to any man• Changes

• New coins• Census to see who should be taxed• Postal service• Jobless to work = roads and temples

• Worked well for 200 years, but who becomes emperor after death?

• Left the Senate in place• High-level jobs open to any man• Changes

• New coins• Census to see who should be taxed• Postal service• Jobless to work = roads and temples

• Worked well for 200 years, but who becomes emperor after death?

Emperors VaryEmperors Vary

• Not all emperors were good• Nero and Caligula were possibly insane

• Caligula - appointed his horse as consul• Nero persecuted Christians and may have set fire to Rome

• A.D. 96-A.D. 180, “good emperors”• Hadrian made Roman law, making it the same for all provinces

• Marcus Aurelius liked philosophy, ruled as such

• Not all emperors were good• Nero and Caligula were possibly insane

• Caligula - appointed his horse as consul• Nero persecuted Christians and may have set fire to Rome

• A.D. 96-A.D. 180, “good emperors”• Hadrian made Roman law, making it the same for all provinces

• Marcus Aurelius liked philosophy, ruled as such

CompareCompare

• Pg. 159• Republic vs. Empire

• Pg. 159• Republic vs. Empire

The Pax Romana Brings Prosperity

The Pax Romana Brings Prosperity

• 200 years from Augustus to Marcus Aurelius

• “Roman Peace”• Ruled an area equal to the continental U.S.

• Traded everywhere along roads, like the Great Silk Road to China

• 200 years from Augustus to Marcus Aurelius

• “Roman Peace”• Ruled an area equal to the continental U.S.

• Traded everywhere along roads, like the Great Silk Road to China

The Distraction of Entertainment

The Distraction of Entertainment

• Circus Maximus• Rome’s largest racecourse for chariots

• Coliseum• Gladiator contest• Man vs. man, man vs. animal, and animal vs. animal

• Could earn freedom if good• Mostly paid for by taxes

• Circus Maximus• Rome’s largest racecourse for chariots

• Coliseum• Gladiator contest• Man vs. man, man vs. animal, and animal vs. animal

• Could earn freedom if good• Mostly paid for by taxes