Slide 1

From Republic to EmpireImperialism

Romans were committed to a policy of imperialism-establishing control over foreign lands and peoples. Other conquestsMacedoniaGreeceAsia Minor ProvincesSocial and Economic EffectRome starts to become the center of the world, because of all of the riches.Wealthy Roman familys establish Latifundia-huge estates

Negative EffectsRome was becoming very rich, but this led to the economic gap between rich and poor to increase. Small farmers could not compete with the latifundias and their slave labor.Angry mobs start to riot

Attempts at ReformTwo young patrician brothers named Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus start political reformTiberius - distribute land to the poorGaius- buy grain for the poor, by using public funds.

Decline of the Republic

Rome was unable to resolve its problems peacefully and civil wars ignite. Slave uprisingsArmy loyalty shifts to generals themselves instead of to RomeSpartacusSpartacus was born in Thrace, became a soldier, and was captured by the Romans. He was sold as a slave to be made a gladiator.

Spartacus

With 70 comrades, he escaped, hid on Mount Vesuvius, and raised a large army of rebel slaves. With his army he defeated two Roman legions.

SpartacusSpartacus intended to lead slaves over the Alps and to go home, but the slaves encouraged him to march on Rome.

SpartacusA fresh Roman army under Crassus finally defeated Spartacus and his men. After his defeat, 6000 men were crucified as a warning to other slaves.

A Weakening RepublicBy 133 BC the Roman Republic faced many problems. Social War breaks out in 91 BC and bloodshed resulted finally in Rome (Senate) gaining control of the allied cities that had rebelled

Julius Caesar's rise to power

Out of the chaos, rose Julius Caesar an ambitious military commander.The Republic starts to weaken as a result of the events that take place during Caesars rise

First TriumvirateTriumvirate means rule by threeCaesar joins Gaius Pompey and Licinius Crassus as the first triumvirate.Caesar knew that with a loyal army behind him he could gain control of Rome

Caesars Actions

Crassus dies in battle in 53 BC and Pompey is declared sole consul.Weary of Caesars power he orders him back to Rome without his army.Caesar refusesContinued

Instead, Caesar marches towards Rome with his army and Pompey flees to Greece.Crossing the RubiconThe die is castCaesar and his conquest in Gaul (France)Cleopatras appointment to the throne in Egypt. The Rule of CaesarCaesar increases the Senate to 900 members, but reduced its power after being declared dictator for life.Senators begin to revolt. Led by Gaius Cassius and Marcus BrutusMarch 15, the Ides of March-44 BC. The conspirators kill Caesar in the Senate

Et tu Brute

These were believed to be Caesars last words which means even you Brutus.He really said, and thou Brutus, my child!Caesar believed that Brutus was his son, he had an affair with Brutuss mother lasting some twenty years.AfterwardsAfter Caesars death, he intended for his grandnephew Octavian to take the thrown. A struggle for power however broke out

Second Triumvirate

Octavian (19), Marc Antony (General), and Lepidus, Caesars second in command make the second triumvirateMarc Antony along with Octavian begin to hunt down the conspirators.Antony and his conquests

Antony led an army east, re-conquering Syria and Asia Minor from the armies of Brutus and Cassius. Then he joined his ally Cleopatra in Egypt.Octavian forced Lepidus to retire.Antony and OctavianAntony and Octavian divided the Roman world. Antony took the east, and Octavian the west.Octavian persuaded the Senate to declare war on Antony and Cleopatra Octavian defeats Antonys forces in Alexandria and Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide.

Augustus (63 BC to 14 AD)

Octavian learned from Caesars mistakes, and did not present himself as an emperor. Senate gave Octavian the name Augustus the revered oneAugustus Caesar (Octavian)