Title: Fall of the Roman Republic And Rise of the Roman Empire
1Fall of the Roman Republic AndRise of the Roman
Empire
2Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire
- Division between the Roman Classes
- Spread of Slavery controlling the agricultural
areas - Migration into the cities
- High Unemployment
- Inflation, the Devaluing of Currency
- Civil War Julius Caesar
3Aristocrats
- As Rome grew, the aristocrats grew richer, and
the poor grew poorer - The rich lived on large estates (or farms) where
up to thousands of slaves worked - Called latifundia
4Slavery
- Slaves in Rome were often conquered people
- Slavery was not based on race
- Slaves had to work on the large estates called
latifundia - Slaves made up 1/3 the population
5Urbanization What is the effect on the cities?
- Small farmers could not compete with these large
estates - Many were retired soldiers
- Some small farmers sold their farms and worked
for the aristocrats - Many quit farming and moved tothe city to find
work
6Inflation What is the effect of the poor?
- To add to the troubles, the Romans created too
much currency. - Devalued their Currency
- Prices of goods and services increased while
wages (pay) stayed the same - Called inflation
7Plebeians seek aid, Reform fails
- - By using slaves for labor, Roman plebeians
found little opportunity for jobs in the
countryside of the city. - In huge numbers, Romans flock to the city of Rome
itself. - All they found were other unemployed people.
- Joined together, many form angry mobs.
- Many are only able to find jobs working for
politicians as hired thugs. - These thugs become privately owned street gangs.
- The Gracchus Brothers
- Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus elected Tribunes
- In 133 BC and again in 144 BC, they call for
reforms to the latifundia system. - Their reform ideas angered many wealthy senators,
who had them killed in gang street violence.
8The rise of Powerful generals
- The most powerful politicians (Patricians) are
also the most powerful generals - These generals started to recruit and pay their
own armies from the poor people - Effect The armies become loyal to the general,
not the Republic
9The Rise of Caesar
- With the plebeians angry at their current state,
powerful generals quickly gain the loyalty of the
legions. - For a number of years, the Senate struggles with
these powerful generals (many are consuls) who
threaten the existence of the Republic with their
power. - Eventually, power becomes split between three
men. - Julius Caesar, consul
- Pompey Magnus (Pompey The Great), consul
- Crassus, retired consul
- Calling themselves, in secret, the Triumvirate,
they plan to split the rule of Rome between them. - Each of the men seeks a base of power from which
to rule. - Pompey, having been a successful general for many
years, sets up in Rome itself. - Julius Caesar conquers the land called Gaul
(modern France), making him extremely rich. - Crassus attempts to conquer Parthia, in Asia
Minor, but is killed in battle.
10Julius Caesar
- Brilliant general
- Conquered Gaul (France) for Rome
- Fought with his men, they were dedicated to him
and not the Republic
11First Triumvirate
- They are known as the 1st Triumvirate (rule by 3)
- Caesar teamed up with Crassus and Pompey to
dominate the Republic as the First Triumvirate - The Roman Senate worried that Caesar was becoming
too popular and powerful - They ordered him to disband his army and return
to Rome - Caesar Pompey Crassus
12Crossing the Rubicon
- Caesar defied the order and marched his men
across the Rubicon River, and into Rome - Defeated other members of the triumvirate
- Took power and was named dictator for life
- Ruled with total power
13The Rule (and death) of Julius Caesar
- Caesars Reforms of Roman Government
- - Created a public works program to employ the
jobless citizens of Rome and gave land to his
soldiers and the poor. - -Introduced the Julian Calendar, which he
adapted from the Egyptians - - He granted Roman citizenship to more people,
many coming from other Italian tribes. (ie- not
the Latins). - Still, many of the patricians and Senators of
Rome hated Caesar and saw him as another would-be
king. - Some considered him a TYRANT.
14The Rule (and death) of Julius Caesar
- Caesars Reforms of Roman Government
- - To save what they saw as a crumbling republic,
a small group of Senators, led by Marcus Brutus,
assassinate Caesar in the Senate on March 15, 44
BC. Known as the IDES OF MARCH - He is stabbed 23 times. It was said his last act
in life was to try and cover his face with his
toga so that no one would see his face as he
died.
15Caesars Reforms
- Expanded citizenship to provinces
- Introduced the Julian Calendar, which he adapted
from the Egyptians - Created jobs by building government buildings
- Increased soldiers pay
- Very popular with the people
16The Assassination of Julius Cesar
17Octavian Augustus Caesar
- Caesars nephew and adopted son
- Very shrewd politician
- After Caesars assassination,Rome broke into
civil war. - Octavian emerged as one ofthe most powerful
Romans
18Second Triumvirate
- Octavian teamed up with Lepidus and Marc Antony
to defeat Caesars enemies and take control of
the Republic - Eventually Octavian became the most powerful,
defeating Antony and his Egyptian ally Cleopatra.
(Antony and Cleopatra then committed suicide
together). He then forced Lepidus into exile.
19First Emperor
- When Augustus defeated Antony, he became Romes
first emperor - Maintained power through control of the army and
through favors - While the institutions of the republic remained,
they had little real power
20Whats a common problem for kings?
21Pax romana
- Roman Peace
- 27 BC- 180 AD
- Expansion and solidification of Roman Empire
- Afforded safety and leisure time inside the
empire - Some people talk about a Pax Americana since
World War II
22Roman roads
- Romans build a network of sophisticated and
durable roads - Good for
- Trade
- Travel
- Moving armies around
- Communicating withprovinces
23Economic impacts of Pax Romana
- Uniform system of money/currency
- Peace encourages trade and prosperity
- Trade inside the empire flourished
- Trade with India and China
24Social Impacts of Pax Romana
- In such a time of peace, stability returned to
social classes - Renewed emphasis on the family
25Gladiators
- To control the mass or poor in Rome, the Romans
hosted holidays during which Gladiators and/or
exotic wild animals would fight each other
Coliseum
26Political Impacts of pax romana
- Uniform rule of law
- Developed civil service
- Expanded control of Europe and Mediterranean
world