Republican Republican Government Collapsed Government Collapsed in Rome in Rome Even though they were Even though they were victorious, Rome was hurt victorious, Rome was hurt in many ways from the in many ways from the Punic Wars Punic Wars
Dec 15, 2015
Republican Government Republican Government Collapsed in RomeCollapsed in Rome
Even though they were Even though they were victorious, Rome was hurt in victorious, Rome was hurt in many ways from the Punic many ways from the Punic
WarsWars
The Gap Between the Rich and The Gap Between the Rich and the Poor Growsthe Poor Grows
Farms that had been destroyed by Hannibal were Farms that had been destroyed by Hannibal were sold to wealthy citizens and turned into sold to wealthy citizens and turned into latifundiaslatifundias
Began raising cattle rather than growing grainBegan raising cattle rather than growing grain
1,000s of captives from wars provided cheap 1,000s of captives from wars provided cheap laborlabor
Where do uprooted veterans of Where do uprooted veterans of war go now?war go now?
Hard to find jobs, as slaves were so Hard to find jobs, as slaves were so plentiful and much cheaperplentiful and much cheaper
New class develops of urban, New class develops of urban, landless poor as people move to the landless poor as people move to the cities looking for work – Proletariatcities looking for work – Proletariat
Discontent, rioted oftenDiscontent, rioted often
Wealth Corrupts the RichWealth Corrupts the Rich
Winning war means growth of loot Winning war means growth of loot and war bootyand war booty
Generals can take some of the spoils Generals can take some of the spoils of war for himself and give the rest of war for himself and give the rest to the Roman treasuryto the Roman treasury
Patricians build mansions and enjoy Patricians build mansions and enjoy exotic food, lavish entertainmentexotic food, lavish entertainment
Slavery Becomes Slavery Becomes WidespreadWidespread
Gladiators were used as public Gladiators were used as public entertainment to fight other entertainment to fight other warriors or wild beastswarriors or wild beasts
After Punic War, After Punic War, 75,000 captives sold 75,000 captives sold into slaveryinto slavery
Worked in mines, Worked in mines, households, farms, households, farms, shipyards etc.shipyards etc.
Some were Some were teachers, musicians, teachers, musicians, secretaries, (more secretaries, (more expensive)expensive)
UprisingsUprisings Danger of slave Danger of slave
uprising is constant uprising is constant “Every slave we own is “Every slave we own is an enemy we harbor.”an enemy we harbor.”
Spartacus led an Spartacus led an uprising of 70,000 that uprising of 70,000 that terrorized Roman terrorized Roman countryside for 2 years. countryside for 2 years. – When they were beaten, When they were beaten,
6,000 of his followers 6,000 of his followers were crucifiedwere crucified
Threats to Roman RepublicThreats to Roman Republic
Richest families of the city, plebian Richest families of the city, plebian as well as patrician, competed for as well as patrician, competed for political power, often violentlypolitical power, often violently
Reformers who tried to help the poor Reformers who tried to help the poor gain land and limit the power of the gain land and limit the power of the aristocratic senate were murderedaristocratic senate were murdered
Traditions are brokenTraditions are broken
A popular general, Marius, was elected A popular general, Marius, was elected Consul 5 times in a row Consul 5 times in a row
Allowed the poor to enlistAllowed the poor to enlist– (prior to this only landowners could serve in (prior to this only landowners could serve in
the army)the army)
They became professional soldiers,They became professional soldiers,– enlist for 16 years enlist for 16 years – Gain food, weapons and loot from generalsGain food, weapons and loot from generals
Generals used army to gain political Generals used army to gain political power, abolishing 6 month limit on dictatorpower, abolishing 6 month limit on dictator
Julius CaesarJulius Caesar
Caesar was a Caesar was a patrician and elected patrician and elected governor of a governor of a province in Spainprovince in Spain
Charmed crowds with Charmed crowds with parties and speechesparties and speeches
The First TriumvirateThe First Triumvirate
Caesar joined forces with Caesar joined forces with Crassus (a wealthy Crassus (a wealthy patrician) and Pompey (a patrician) and Pompey (a popular general) to rule as popular general) to rule as a triumvirate. a triumvirate.
They bribed and bullied They bribed and bullied the Senate into following the Senate into following their decisions – no more their decisions – no more checks and balanceschecks and balances
As governor of Gaul, Caesar waged As governor of Gaul, Caesar waged many wars on Europe, reportedly many wars on Europe, reportedly killing 1/3 of the people in the land it killing 1/3 of the people in the land it conqueredconquered
He shared in all the hardships suffered He shared in all the hardships suffered by his soldiers, making them loyal to by his soldiers, making them loyal to himhim
He sent home accounts of his victoriesHe sent home accounts of his victories
Caesar Makes Himself Ruler of Caesar Makes Himself Ruler of RomeRome
Poorer citizens loved Poorer citizens loved him, senators become him, senators become alarmed at his alarmed at his growing popularity growing popularity and powerand power
Triumvirate falls apart Triumvirate falls apart by 50 B.C. – Crassus by 50 B.C. – Crassus was killed in battle was killed in battle and Pompey becomes and Pompey becomes Caesar’s rivalCaesar’s rival
The senate ordered The senate ordered Caesar to disband his Caesar to disband his legions and return to legions and return to RomeRome
Crossing the RubiconCrossing the RubiconOn Jan.10, 49 B.C. Caesar On Jan.10, 49 B.C. Caesar
rode across the Rubicon rode across the Rubicon River in Italy with his River in Italy with his troops, defying the troops, defying the senate’s order and senate’s order and challenging Pompeychallenging Pompey
Pompey escaped as Pompey escaped as Caesar’s troops Caesar’s troops occupy Rome, occupy Rome, fleeing to Egypt fleeing to Egypt where he was where he was murderedmurdered
He is appointed He is appointed dictator for 10 dictator for 10 years by the senateyears by the senate
Absolute RulerAbsolute Ruler
As dictator, Caesar makes As dictator, Caesar makes many changesmany changes– Expanded senate to 900 men Expanded senate to 900 men
(added loyal followers)(added loyal followers)– Landowners had to use free Landowners had to use free
men for at least 1/3 of men for at least 1/3 of workforce instead of slave laborworkforce instead of slave labor
– Created more jobs and founded Created more jobs and founded colonies to provide land for colonies to provide land for Rome’s landless poorRome’s landless poor
– Set up new calendar Set up new calendar
AssassinationAssassination March 15, 44 B.C. Caesar was stabbed to death March 15, 44 B.C. Caesar was stabbed to death
by a group of senators. They were led by by a group of senators. They were led by Caesar’s friend BrutusCaesar’s friend Brutus
Senators feared he was trying to make himself Senators feared he was trying to make himself king, (Roman law permitted the killing of anyone king, (Roman law permitted the killing of anyone trying to do such a thing)trying to do such a thing)
Civil War followed Caesar’s Civil War followed Caesar’s DeathDeath
Civil War breaks out and a second Civil War breaks out and a second triumvirate is formed of victorious triumvirate is formed of victorious generalsgenerals– Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew)Octavian (Caesar’s grandnephew)– Mark Antony (Caesar’s comrade)Mark Antony (Caesar’s comrade)– Lepidus (politician)Lepidus (politician)
– Had conspirators in Caesar’s death killedHad conspirators in Caesar’s death killed
War Between Octavian and War Between Octavian and AntonyAntony
Antony meets Cleopatra, Caesar’s Antony meets Cleopatra, Caesar’s former mistress, and the two have a former mistress, and the two have a love affair. Antony then wants to love affair. Antony then wants to divorce Octavian’s sisterdivorce Octavian’s sister
Civil War Again! Civil War Again!
Royal SuicideRoyal Suicide Octavian’s fleet defeats Antony and Cleopatra’s. Octavian’s fleet defeats Antony and Cleopatra’s.
The couple committed suicide.The couple committed suicide. Octavian made Egypt a province of Rome and Octavian made Egypt a province of Rome and
becomes sole rulerbecomes sole ruler
AugustusAugustus
The senate convinces Octavian to The senate convinces Octavian to accept the title “Augustus”, accept the title “Augustus”, meaning exalted onemeaning exalted one
Roman state is no longer a Roman state is no longer a Republic, but is ruled by one Republic, but is ruled by one man as an empire, though the man as an empire, though the senate and assembly continued senate and assembly continued to meet on business with some to meet on business with some powerpower
He ruled for 41 years while Rome He ruled for 41 years while Rome experienced the most peaceful experienced the most peaceful and prosperous era – The Pax and prosperous era – The Pax RomanaRomana