5-2

From Republic to Empire

Growing Inequality

Senate becoming more powerful and more elite

Small farmers losing land to patrician class – moving to cities in search of work

Gracchus brothers (Tiberius and Gaius) suggest redistributing land from the rich to the poor – they are murdered by Senators (133 BCE)

A New Role for the Army

New idea from Marius (Roman general): recruit landless poor to serve in army who swore an oath of loyalty to the general - not the government

Legacy: concentrated power in hands of individual generals Military becomes an attractive tool for ambitious

men

Questions

Why were more people moving to the cities?

How did Marius change the role of the army?

Collapse of the Republic

83-31 BCE – 50 years of civil war with individuals competing for power

Rule by triumvirate: government by three people with equal power

The First Triumvirate

Caesar, Pompey, Crassus (dies in battle)

Senate awards power to Pompey

Caesar invades Italy by crossing the Rubicon and defeats Pompey’s army

Caesar establishes a dictatorship but is assassinated by Senators in 44 BCE (less than one year in power)

Questions

What is a triumvirate?

Why did Caesar invade Italy?

The Second Triumvirate

Octavian (Caesar’s heir), Antony (Caesar’s ally), Lepidus (Caesar’s commander)

Soon, Octavian and Antony come into conflict with each other Antony allies with Cleopatra VII

of Egypt and falls in love Octavian destroys army and navy

of Antony and Cleopatra (31 BCE) and they both commit suicide

Consequence: Octavian is sole ruler of Roman world

The Age of Augustus (31 BCE – 14 CE)

Octavian Augustus (“the revered one”)

Gives some power back to Senate and becomes first Roman imperator (emperor)

Highly popular but still controls army (150,000 Romans + 130,000 subjects + 9,000 guards)

Questions

How did Augustus come to power?

Why did Antony ally with Cleopatra?

The Early Empire (14-180 CE)

Next four emperors from Augustus’s family take over more and more power from Senate Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero

Remember: the emperor controls the army, not the Senate

The Early Empire (cont.)

The Pax Romana (Roman Peace) – 100 years Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius Treat ruling class with respect End arbitrary executions Maintain peace Adopt capable men into family to provide good

successors Domestic programs to help people and provide

building projects

Questions

Identify one characteristic of the Pax Romana

Identify another characteristic of the Pax Romana

Economic and Social Conditions

Early Empire – prosperity and peaceTrade from all over the empire (all the way to

China)Still mostly farmingStill huge gap between rich and poor

Homework

In groups of 3, you will be creating a campaign poster and short speech for one Roman emperor to convince the class that he should join Augustus as one of the “Top 3 Greatest Roman Emperors of All Time”

This weekend, you need to do research on your assigned emperor and bring it to class on Monday. Focus on the following: What did he accomplish? What important events happened during his rule? What important legacies did he leave behind?

Assignments

Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero Vespasian Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius