The Republic Collapses

Ancient Rome and Early Christianity

Review Last Class What was the structure of Rome’s

republic?– How was it similar/different to ours?

How did Rome expand its power?– Economically?– Politically?

After the Punic Wars, what areas did Rome control?

Growth, Power, Problems Growth and power brought challenges Republic grew more and more unstable

– Increasing unhappiness among lower classes– Breakdown in military order

Led to the end of the republic, and beginning of a new political system

Economic Turmoil Gap between rich and poor grew Wealthy landowners ran huge estates

– Thousands of slaves worked on the estates– By 100 B.C. - 1/3 of population = slaves

Small farmers couldn’t compete– Made up of former soldiers– Sold land, became homeless and jobless– Became part of urban poor, 1/4 Roman

society

Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus 2 brothers who tried to

help Rome’s poor Served as tribunes Suggested reforms:

– Limiting size of estates– Giving land to poor

Senators - threatened by their ideas

Murdered - Tiberius 133 B.C. and Gaius 121 B.C.

Military Upheaval Military loyalty decreased

– Forced allies, newly conquered areas to supply soldiers

– Recruited poor, jobless, homeless to be soldiers Promised them land Fought for pay Only had to be loyal to their commander

– Replaced citizen-soldiers who were loyal to the republic

Generals started to seize power for themselves

Julius Caesar Takes Control 60 B.C. - military leader Julius Caesar

joined forces with:– Crassus - wealthy Roman– Pompey - popular general

59 B.C. Caesar elected consul Ruled w/ Crassus and Pompey as a

“triumvirate” for 10 years– Triumvirate - a group of three rulers

Julius Caesar Served 1 year as consul Appointed himself as

governor of Gaul From 58-50 B.C. - led

legions to conquer Gaul Success made him

popular– Senate ordered him to

disband his legions & return home

Caesar Takes Control 49 B.C. - Caesar marched his army toward

Rome – Pompey fled

Defeated Pompey’s armies in Greece, Asia, Spain, Egypt

Returned to Rome in 46 B.C. Appointed dictator 44 B.C. - Caesar named dictator for life

Dictatorship

Changes Under Caesar Granted citizenship to people in Rome’s

provinces Expanded the Senate Created jobs for the poor Constructed new buildings Started colonies where people w/o land

could own property Increased pay for soldiers

Caesar’s Death People feared Caesar had too much power 44 B.C. Caesar was assassinated by a group

of Senators – Led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius

The Empire Begins Civil war destroyed remains of the

Republic 3 supporters of Caesar rose against the

assassins– Octavian - Caesar’s adopted son– Mark Antony - experienced general– Lepidus - powerful politician

43 B.C. ruled Rome as Second Triumvirate– 10 years

Second Triumvirate Drama Octavian forced Lepidus to retire Antony and Octavian became rivals Antony fell in love with Cleopatra,

followed her to Egypt Octavian accused Antony of ruling Rome

from Egypt Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra

at battle of Actium in 31 B.C. Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide

Augustus Caesar Octavian became

unchallenged ruler of Rome

Accepted titles of Augustus and Imperator

Began time of peace in Rome– Pax Romana

For Next Class… Choose top three choices for “When in

Rome” Project Read Chapter 6, Section 2 Blog Post