Download From Republic to Empire

6th Grade UBD - Unit 6 - From Republic to Empire
 How did Rome's
transition from
Republic to
Empire impact
its citizens?

Rome Becomes an Empire- Julius Caesar’s defeat
of Pompey led to the end of the Roman Republic
and the founding of the Roman Empire.

The Growth of the Empire- The Roman Empire
grew quickly in its first 100 years. At last, it grew too
large to be governed easily.

Caesar was originally Pompey’s ally in the First Triumvirate.

Caesar’s victory in Gaul gave him the political strength to
defeat Pompey.

Some members of the Roman Senate were worried about
Caesar’s growing power. As a result, they assassinated him.

Octavian, Caesar’s nephew, won the civil war that followed
Caesar’s death. He became Augustus, the emperor.

Rome’s transition from
republic to empire had a
great impact on its
citizens.

Under the republic, the
Roman people had the
ability to choose their own
leaders and
representatives.
Video- Caesars Path to Power
Key Term
Julius Caesar- A
Roman general and
statesman. He was
also a prolific writer.
He laid the
groundwork for the
transformation of
Rome from a republic
to an empire.

With the rise of Julius Caesar
and the creation of the
Roman Empire, people lost
their right to choose their
leaders.

The government was led by
emperors whose power to
rule was passed on through
their family lines.

The creation of the empire
greatly limited citizens’
political rights, and this
political system was marked
by violence and disorder.

However, it also led to many
benefits, including
expansion, wealth, and
diversity.

Caesar was very
ambitious. He served in
the Roman military and
was a skillful soldier.

He also was a clever
politician and a skilled
writer and speaker.

In its early years, Rome was a
republic guided by
democratic political beliefs.

After a series of successes in
the Punic Wars, Rome grew
larger and stronger. At that
time it was ruled by a
triumvirate, a group of three
leaders.
Key Term
TriumvirateIn ancient
Rome a
triumvirate was
a ruling
commission of
three officials.

One of these leaders,
Julius Caesar, used military
successes to increase his
power.

He then defeated his main
rival in the triumvirate,
Pompey, and declared
himself the sole ruler of
Rome.

After Julius Caesar
declared himself the sole
ruler of Rome the
government began the
process by which it
ceased to be a republic
and became an empire.

Caesar’s rise ushered in a
time of great expansion
and success as well as
great turmoil.

Roman territory began to
grow tremendously, and
many of Rome’s common
people loved their new
leader.

However, a group of
senators, fearing
Caesar’s unrestrained
power, assassinated him.

This act led to a lengthy
and bloody civil war in
Rome.
Key Term
Ides of March- A
day on the Roman
calendar that
corresponds to
March 15th. It has
became notorious
as the date of the
assassination of
Julius Caesar.
Key Term
Assassinate- To
murder (an
important person)
in a surprise
attack for political
or religious
reasons.
Video- The Murder of Caesar

After Caesar’s death, Rome
broke out into a civil war.

The civil war in Rome, finally
ended with the ascension of
Octavian as the emperor
Augustus.
Video- The First Emperor

Although the Roman
Empire flourished for
many years, its
political situation
remained one of
instability and
violence.

Rome’s place on the Mediterranean Sea and its warm
climate made it easy to grow food.

Conquered nations were absorbed into the Roman
Empire. Cities were built to look like Rome, and the
Roman culture was passed on to the new citizens.

The empire was run in an orderly fashion. However,
the transfer of the role of emperor involved many
cruel acts.
Key Term
Pax RomanaLatin for “Roman
Peace.”

The Pax Romana brought an
end to the inside fighting
that had existed in Rome
since the time of Caesar.

During this period, Rome’s
growth brought great riches
and new ways of doing things
to the empire and its people.
Video- Roman Buildings

There was a strong sense
of similarity among Roman
cities.

They all were designed and
built to look like one
another.

All Roman cities had a
theater and temples set
aside for different gods.

They also had aqueducts
to carry water through
the city, and they all had
public bathhouses.

Buildings in even the
most distant provinces
were designed the same
as those in Rome.
Key Term
Aqueduct- An
artificial waterway
designed to carry
water from one
place to another.
The word comes
from the Latin aqua,
meaning “water.”

Many people were happy
to become a part of
Rome.

The Romans brought
many advantages,
including better
architecture, education,
and health.

A common
language, calendar,
religion, and form of
money helped tie
the Roman Empire
together.

Citizens anywhere in the Roman Empire also were treated
the same way. They spoke Latin and used the same form
of money.

They also used the same calendar. It was called the Julian
calendar. It was named after Julius Caesar, its creator.

These details meant that all cities and all people in the
empire were connected. This was even true of cities that
Rome conquered and added to its growing empire.