Download Fall of the Roman Republic

Fall of the Roman Republic
World History - Libertyville HS
The Punic Wars
• First Punic War – takeaway?
• Second Punic War – takeaway?
• Third Punic War – takeaway?
• Overall, how did the Punic Wars reflect or
reinforce your understanding of the
character of the Roman people?
Post Punic War Roman Republic
• Divisions of Citizens
– Patricians & Equestrians
• Patricians & Equestrians held
highest offices, ruled the state
– City population (Plebeian)
• Many unemployed; lived on
charity and bribes of office
holders
• Passed the time attending shows
given by the state, rich people
– Country farmers (Plebeian)
• Peasants, who used to be
independent farmers
• They lost their lands to rich
creditors
Post Punic War Roman Republic
• Divisions of the People
– Subject population of Italy:
allies who had no political
rights, vote or power
– Subjects outside Italy (Sicily,
Spain)
• No power
• Duty to pay tribute
– Slaves: no rights – just
service (POWs)
Problems with the Republic
• #1: Great mass of people
had no political rights
• #2: Voting could only take
place in city of Rome
(inefficient)
• #3: Decay of Patriotism
– Aristocratic classes were
out for themselves
– Used state power for their
own gain
Attempts to Reform System
• Gracchus Brothers
– Tiberius and Gaius, each
elected Tribune (T in
133 BC, G in 122 BC)
– Attempted land reform,
extend citizenship to all
of Italy
• Reaction of Patricians?
– Assassinate each
brother, in turn
Attempts to Reform Republic
• Lesson from the Gracchus brothers?
– Violence became acceptable tool of statecraft
(respect for law declined, esp. amongst rich)
– Civil war (87-82 BC) between Patricians, Plebeians
occurred: Patricians won
– Potential political power of plebeians remained an
untapped force (popularity = votes! = government
control)
Julius Caesar
• Very astute politician
– Patrician, but saw that
political power rested with
the people
– Fantastic speaker and
brilliant general
• Realized that to take over
Republic, one needed three
things
– Money
– Popularity w/ masses
Support of Army
Julius Caesar
• Persuaded Crassus, the
richest man in Rome, and
Pompey, Rome’s most
successful general, to join
him in taking over the
Republic = First
Triumverate
• What did each man get?
– Pompey: recognition of
troops
– Crassus: more money!
– Caesar: military command
First Triumverate
• Caesar knew that the way to
political power was through
military success
– Army gave general military
power base (loyal troops)
– Army gave general wealth
(share of loot from conquests)
– Successful army gave general
public popularity, prestige
with the masses
Caesar, in Gaul
• Caesar needed to achieve
military success
• But goal was political –
NOT military – power
– Needed to conquer
somewhere close to Rome
– Appearance of threat to
Rome so he could “save”
the state
• Chose Gaul (France)
– Caesar / army conquered
all of France, Belgium
– Invaded Britain twice
Caesar, in Gaul
• What happened in
conquered territories?
– Caesar allowed selfgovernment of surviving tribes
(Client states)
– Gauls saw advantages of
adopting Roman customs, way
of life; protection of armies
– “Romanization”: assimilation
of outsiders into Roman
system
– Settlers, colonists followed
Caesar’s armies and settled,
further “Romanizing” the area
• Caesar aggressively
marketed his success to
Roman people
(“Commentaries”)
End of First Triumverate
• Meanwhile, what were 1st
Triumverate members
doing?
– Caesar fighting in Gaul
– Pompey got jealous of Caesar
– Crassus got himself killed,
trying to lead an army
• Pompey got Senate to
declare Caesar an “enemy of
the state”
• Demanded he give up his
army and return to Rome
for trial & certain death
• Why? Afraid of his power,
popularity
Overthrowing the Republic
• 49 BC: Caesar decided to
“Cross the Rubicon”
– Traditionally, no armies
allowed in Italy unless
under control of Senate
(avoids military takeover)
– Rubicon river = N. border
– Thus, “crossing the
Rubicon” meant someone
committing an irreversible
course of action
• Result? Civil War!
Overthrowing the Republic
• Pompey vs. Caesar
– Caesar & Pompey fight; C
wins (had him assassinated)
• Caesar’s dictatorship
– Very swift campaign against
Parthians (revenge for
Crassus’ death)
• “Veni, vedi, vici” (I came, I
saw, I conquered)
• 46 BC: Returned to Rome
where Senate appointed
him dictator for 10 years
– Elevated Caesar above laws,
constitution
• 44 BC: appointed dictator
for life
Dictator Caesar & His Fall
• Caesar instituted reforms
aimed at improving
common man’s life
• Many patrician Romans
hated & resented Caesar’s
assumption of power
• March 15, 44 BC
– Group of senators
assassinate Caesar, in
Senate
– “Et Tu Brute?” - last words
(ID friend as conspirator)