Download The Spread of the Roman Republic

The Spread of the Roman
Republic
The Spread of Roman Power
• Roman legions fight to expand the empire
– Controlled central Italy by 390 BC
• Were defeated an had Rome destroyed by the Gauls
– They rebuilt and later controlled all of Italy by 265 BC
• Rome keeps control with deals to people
– Areas close to Rome allowed to…
• Became full citizens of Rome
• Have the same rights and could vote
– Further areas given rights, couldn’t vote
– Also couldn’t make treaties w/ others
Trade Leads to War
• Rome had great access to trade routes
– Made merchants rich by selling products
• Other cities were interfering with the money
Rome could be making
– Carthage- trade city of the Phoeicians
• Both cities fought for control of the
Mediterranean Sea
– With it came incredible riches
– Control meant all trade thru their city
The Punic Wars 264-146 BC
• Carthage and Rome fight for Mediterranean
– Total of 3 wars fought
• 1st Punic War- won by Rome – they take Sicily
• 2nd Punic War- Hannibal destroys most of Rome
• 3rd Punic War- Carthage is completely destroyed
• Rome wins due to better army & mistakes
• Effects of the war on both groups…
– Rome wins, controls trade, wealth grows
– Carthage no longer a major city
Hannibal vs. Scipio
• Hannibal- Carthaginian military leader
– Brilliant military strategist, used elephants as weapons
– Planned a surprise attack on Rome, to avenge a loss
• Trip took them thru Spain and France to get to Italy
– Greatest victory came at Cannae in 216 BC
• Scipio- Roman military leader
– Saves Rome by attacking Carthage
– Forces Hannibal to return to defend
– Romans defeat Hannibal at Zama (202 BC)
Expansion After the Punic Wars
• Rome expanded east after the Punic Wars
– Took Macedonia, Greece and Anatolia
• Also controlled Spain, parts of France
– Empire now stretched from Spain to Asia
• Benefits of Expansion
– New citizens (partial and full)
– More tax revenue and people for army
• Also created many problems in Rome
– Problems lead to the end of the republic
Expansion Creates Major Issues
• Growing empire led to the following problems
– Increasing gap between rich and poor
• Rich gained more land from war, poor did not
• Rich also gained slaves- conquered people from war
– Poor farmers could not compete against slave labor
– Soldiers and small farmers lose their jobs
• Came home to no job, or couldn’t compete
• Moved to the cities to look for work
• Many were homeless and hated the rich
– Inflation hits- devaluation of money
• Money will not buy what it used to
with the increased wealth, prices go up
The Republic Collapses
• The republic slowly began to fall apart
– Tiberius and Gaius try to save the republic
• Tried to reform the land issues to fix problem
• Both were killed for their ideas against the rich
– Civil war breaks out b/w rich and poor
• Political leaders build armies to gain power
– Hired jobless soldiers to fight for them
• Soldiers no longer fight for Rome
• Rivalries b/w generals led to many
battles for control of Rome
The First Triumvirate
• Triumvirate- group of three leaders
• 3 Leaders come to power together
– Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar
• Caesar gained power by taking Gaul (France)
– Caesar told to disband army by senators
• He refuses adding another problem to republic
• Civil war begins again over right v. wrong
• Caesar then turned his armies on Rome
– Attacks Pompey’s armies, defeats them
– Pompey flees Rome, Caesar becomes ruler
• Named dictator for life by Senate- an absolute ruler
• Gets new title in 44 BC
Julius Caesar’s Rule of Rome
• Makes many changes to Rome
– Granted Roman citizenship to people of conquered areas
– Expanding the Senate
• Added his friends and other supporters
– Created jobs for the poor
• Built new buildings in Rome
• Started communities were people with no
land could own land
• Increased pay for soldiers on the Army
• Senators did not like his popularity
– Felt they would lose their influence w/ people
– Assassinated J. Caesar on March 15, 44 BC
• The “Ides of March”- prophecy of his death
Ancient Rome After Caesar
Life After Julius Caesar
• Rome falls into civil war again
• A new triumvirate comes to power
– Octavian, Marc Antony and Lepidus
• Three don’t share power long, Lepidus is forced
to retire
• Marc Antony falls in love with Cleopatra
Octavian Takes Control
• Octavian accuses Marc Antony of trying to rule
Rome from Egypt
– Rome breaks out in civil war again
• Octavian defeats Antony at Battle of Actium
– Marc Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide
• Octavian takes full power- becomes Augustus
– Takes the name Augutus- means “exalted one”
– Also took name imperator- means “emperor”
The Pax Romana
• Pax Romana- time of peace in
Rome
– Starts about the time of Augustus’
reign (27BC)
– Lasts for over 200 years
• Population between this time is 6080 mil.
• Empire covers most of Europe and
Africa
Economy of the Pax Romana
• Economy was based on Agriculture
– Many people farmed
– Traded at sea, used Roman navy for protection
– Traded along roads connected to the Silk Roads
• Created a coin monetary system
– Made of silver- called a denarius
– Made trade easier because there was a common
way to trade all over the empire
Government and Emperors
• Army had to protect all the lands
– Allowed people to join; gave citizenship to them
• Augustus set up a civil service
– Paid people to run the government, like today
• Augustus dies, son Tiberius takes over 14AD
• Good Emperors of Pax Romana (96-180AD)
– Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, Aurelius
• Bad Emperors of Pax Romana (37-96AD)
– Caligula, Nero, Domitian- 2 thought to be crazy
Trajan
Life in Imperial Rome
• People did not live in the cities; lived in the
countrysides- did business in cities
• Society based around the family
• Women close to equals to men; no voting
• Boys favored over girls, girls don’t get names
• Women married between 12-15
• Slaves played a major role in Roman society
– Made about 1/3 of population