Rome Becomes

an Empire…

Pre-AP World History

Chapter 6.2 (pages 146-150)

The Big Picture

• Angry poor people, power-hungry generals,

and ambitious politicians threatened the

Roman Republic. There was a widening gap

between the rich and poor.

• Julius Caesar gained absolute control of the

republic but did not rule long.

• After Caesar was assassinated, Augustus

founded an empire that enjoyed peace and

prosperity for about 207 years. We call this

Pax Romana.

Conflicts at

Home as Rome

begins to expand

So What’s Happening in Rome at This Point?

The Gap Between Rich & Poor is Growing

• Wealthy Romans buy up lands from small farmers who

were off fighting in wars creating Latifundia (large

estates)

• These wealthy Romans are ignoring their civic duties–

just want $

• The Latifundias (large estates) used slave labor so small

farmers couldn’t compete = massive unemployment

• Unemployed moved to cities (bread & circuses)

• Corruption (i.e. Roman governors stealing)

• As differences increased between rich and poor, there was

a constant threat of uprisings

Slave revolts

• SPARTACUS

– Former Greek mercenary

– Led slave revolt

– 70,000 slaves

– Cost Rome:

• Men

• Money

• Resources

• Weakened confidence in leadership

The reformers

• The Gracchi brothers – Tiberius and Gaius

• Wanted to restore the small farms

• Wanted to institute land reform by limiting

the sizes of Latifundias. Wanted to give the

land to the poor.

• Both were assassinated

• Assassination becomes the new political

tool

Attempts at Reform

Fail

The Writing is on the wall--

The days of the Republic were numbered!

A Civil War results

• Generals who had conquered

other lands wanted power at

home

– Hired poor farmers as soldiers

who became loyal to generals

• Generals began civil war –

(war between groups within

same country)

– A general named Marius

fought for the plebeians

– A general named Sulla fought

for the patricians

• Patricians won in 82 B.C.E.;

Sulla became dictator

Review

Question:

Who fought in the

civil war?

Eventually, Julius

Caesar emerged to

bring order to Rome

An Ambitious General

• After Sulla’s death,

other generals rose to

power

• One was Julius Caesar

– born around 100

B.C.E. into an old,

noble family that had

lost most of its wealth

Military Leader

• Caesar fought in

Asia Minor and

Spain

• He proved himself a

great general in a

military campaign

against Gaul

– Caesar’s conquest of

Gaul brought him

fame and fortune

First Triumvirate

• A Triumvirate is rule by three people

• Caesar formed the First Triumvirate with

Pompey and Crassus in which they would rule

equally

Dictator for Life

• Caesar--great politician, reformer (popular w/plebeians)

• Many powerful Romans, including patrician senators

distrusted Caesar

• Pompey (former ally/Triumvirate) began to fear Caesar

• Senate ordered Caesar to return from Gaul and to

disband army (at Pompey’s suggestion)

• Caesar instead led army to Italy, and fought Pompey for

control (a civil war); Pompey flees

• The First Triumvirate (three rulers) was done. (Cassus

had previously died in battle)

• Senate appointed Caesar dictator for life in 44 B.C.E.

Table Talk…

• We know that when Rome became a republic,

a guiding principle to the formation of the

republic and its constitution was that power

would not rest in the hands of one sole person.

How does that jive with Caesar being made a

dictator for life?

• What’s another name we could call Caesar?

(Another name for Dictator for life?)

• If we could call Caesar king, then why didn’t

they?

Caesar’s reforms

• Caesar was an absolute

ruler, but started some

reforms

– Expanded Senate, enforced

laws, created jobs (public

works projects), set-up

colonies to give land to

poor, gave out free grain,

set-up the Julian calendar

(365 days + leap year )

Either you loved him

or you hated him

Some people thought Caesar

was a wise ruler who brought

peace to Rome

Others thought he was a

tyrant who wanted to be

King, and create a dynasty

Assassination! And His

Legacy

Caesar was assassinated

on March 15, 44 B.C.E.

by a group of senators

(led by Brutus)

– They repeatedly

stabbed him on the

Senate floor

– Groups’ leaders were

eventually killed or

committed suicide

Review Question:

Why was Caesar killed?

Emperors Rule

Rome

Essential Question:

What happened to Rome

after Caesar’s death?

Civil War happened again

• After Caesar’s death, civil war

destroyed what was left of republic

– A Second Triumvirate was formed

which included Octavian (Caesar’s

nephew and adopted son) and Marc

Antony (ill-fated lover of Cleopatra)

– Octavian changed name to Augustus

Caesar (Augustus means “exalted one”)

– Augustus wanted more power and a

civil war broke out between in which

he led Roman legions against Marc

Antony and his Egyptian allies

– Augustus won and became Rome’s

first emperor

– This effectively ended the Roman

Republic

Spread of

slavery in the

agricultural

system

Migration of

small farmers

into cities and

unemployment

Civil war over

the power of

Julius Caesar

Devaluation of

Roman currency;

inflation

Causes for the

decline of the

Roman Republic

Rome

Becomes an

empire

ruled by one man

Augustus

Welcome to imperial

Rome

Augustus Rebuilds

Rome

• Augustus became

Rome’s first emperor

– Used title “first citizen”

– But fails to provide for

successor

– Controlled provinces,

strengthened defenses,

began civil service

– Beautified Rome by

building temples,

theaters, monuments

The Roman Peace

• Augustus’ reign began

Pax Romana – long

period of peace and

stability (207 years)

under Imperial rule.

– Empire grew to greatest

size, 3 million miles with

1 million people living

in Rome

• Roman army of 300,000

men became greatest

fighting force in world

Pax Romana

Two centuries of peace and

prosperity under imperial

rule

Expansion and

solidification of the

Roman Empire,

particularly in the Near

East occurred during the

Pax Romana

Rome after augustus

• Pax Romana continued after Augustus’ death

in A.D. 14

• The Peace lasted for 207 years (two centuries)

– Empire continues to thrive under government

begun by Augustus

• Imperial Rome failed to provide for peaceful

succession of Emperors

• Rome was unified and enlarged. It was using

imperial authority and the military.

Agriculture and Trade

= A strong economy

• Agriculture = most important industry

• 90 % of people engaged in farming

• Denarius (silver coins) made trade easier

• Vast trading network (including India & China)

• Complex network of Silk Road/Army Roads linked

Rome to far-away places (southern Russia)

• Romans produced pottery, metal goods, glass, wine,

olive oil & brought back grain, ivory, silk, spices,

gold and silver

Currency—

Denarius coins

• During the Pax Romana, a uniform system of

money was established, which helped to

expand trade.

Other impacts of The

Pax Romana

• Provided safe travel & trade on Roman roads

• Promoted economic prosperity and stability

• Established uniform system of money, which

helped to expand trade

• Returned stability to social classes (jobs)

• Increased emphasis on the family

• Created a civil service

• Developed a uniform rule of law

Summary

• The results of Roman expansion produced

social conflict and civil war.

• Julius Caesar gained power and became a

dictator and was assassinated .

• The reign of Augustus Caesar began a long

period of imperial rule and peace in the

Roman Empire.

• The Roman Republic became the Roman

Empire.

Why It Matters

Now…

Rome faced many of the same

problems that we face today of

how to maintain peace, law, and

order.