Download The Roman Empire Brings Change

Rome’s growth brought political,
economic & social changes
2
brothers Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus
attempted to help Rome’s poor. Not liked
by Rome’s senators.
 They were killed . Led to a civil war.
 Politics came to the military. Generals
promised land to get the poor to join
their ranks.
 Soldiers loyalty only to the generals.
 Caesar, Crassus
& Pompey formed a
triumvirate (a group of three leaders).
 Caesar was elected consul. Served one year
and became governor of Gaul.
 Pompey feared Caesar ambitions and had
the senate order Caesar to disband his
legion. Caesar disobeyed. Led to civil war.
 Caesar crossed the Rubicon River on
January 10, 49 B.C. to fight Pompey’s armies.
 Defeated
Pompey’s armies and was
declared dictator.
 Governed as an absolute ruler.
 Granted citizenship to people ion the
provinces.
 Added senators in the senate.
 Helped the poor by creating work projects.
 Nobility & senators feared his power,
success & popularity.
 Assassinated on March 15, 44 B.C.
 Civil War
broke out after Caesars death.
 3 of Caesars allies joined together to
crush the assassins of Caesar.
 Mark Antony, Lepidus & Octavian took
control of Rome. Ruled for 10 years. (2nd
Triumvirate).
 This ended in violence. Octavian forced
Lepidus to retire. Octavian accused Mark
Antony of trying to rule Rome from
Egypt.
 Octavian
defeated Antony & Cleopatra at
the battle of Actium in 31 BC.
 Octavian became ruler of Rome.
Accepted the title of Augustus which
means exalted one.
 Kept the title of imperator or supreme
military commander.
 From
27 BC to 180 A.D. peace reigned
within Rome’s borders. Time is known as
Pax Romana.
 Agriculture was the most important industry
in the empire.
 Denarius was used as coinage throughout
the empire.
 Roads played an important role in trade. The
Silk Road that brought goods from China to
Rome was one of the most important.