Download CHAPTER 7: THE ROMANS

CHAPTER 7: THE
ROMANS
Lesson 2 –
From Republic to Empire
(p. 133-138)
Roman Republic (around 500 BC) & the
power of the Senate

By second century BC the Senate (members drawn from
landowning aristocracy) had tremendous power.

They were in the Senate for life;

Held the most important offices in the Roman Republic;

Senate controlled foreign policy, domestic policy AND all
financial affairs of the Roman State.
Decline of the Small Farmer

The backbone of Rome was always the small farmer
(key to gov. & military) BUT

Over time the landed aristocrats bought out the small
peasant farmers creating large estates for themselves
that they worked using slave labor.

THE RISE OF LARGE ESTATES LED TO THE DECLINE OF
THE SMALL CITIZEN FARMERS creating a large class of
landless poor citizens, many of whom went to live in
the cities of the Republic.

This was a new ECONOMIC and SOCIAL crisis for the
Republic.
Council of Plebs & Land Reform

Created to help the landless poor.

Called for Land Reform (which is usually aimed at
getting land ownership out of the hands of the
few/wealthy & into the hands of the masses/poor).

Of course the Roman Senators (who were the wealthiest
landowners) did NOT want to turn their land over to be
given to the poor & the killed the head of the Council of
Plebs! (and his brother as well)

This attempt at land reform made the instability and
violence in the Republic much worse.
Changes in the military
Around 100 BC Roman generals began recruiting
soldiers in a new way (for centuries the Roman army
was made up of the owners of small farms);
 BUT – at this time the military switched to recruiting
soldiers from the urban & rural poor who did not own
any land.




These new volunteer soldiers saw their loyalty to
whichever general had recruited them RATHER THAN to
the Roman Republic.
The Generals eventually became involved in politics to
have laws passed that would provide the land they
needed for veteran soldiers.
This new system of military recruitment resulted in
great power being placed with the Generals.
Civil War in Rome

The competition between powerful Generals ultimately
led to CIVIL WAR in the Republic (around 87 BC)

One General (“SULLA”) seized Rome & conducted a
reign of terror to wipe out all of his opposition and
ultimately restored power to the SENATE alone – wiping
out all of the people’s assemblies.

Although many believe Sulla intended to restore the
Republic to the people that did not happen… instead his
legacy became….

Using the military to overthrow a government and seize
power (usually called a “coup”).
TRIUMVERATE 1

For the next 50 years Rome saw COMPETITION FOR POWER AMONG
INDIVIDUALS and CIVIL WARS CAUSED BY THEIR CONFLICTS. (SEE QUOTE
ON PAGE 135 IN TEXT…What is Sallust blaming Rome’s troubles on?)

3 powerful men (had wealth & military leadership) became most important
in the Republic holding all political & military power in a form of gov.
called a TRIUMVERATE (3 people with = power in charge).’

This situation prevailed until – following another civil war - Julius Caesar
became the DICTATOR or absolute ruler of Rome (ultimately became
dictator for life).

Realizing the need for reform in order to save the Empire Julius Caesar
restored the Senate – gave land to the poor & granted citizenship to
conquered peoples who had helped him. Ultimately he weakened the
Senate by packing it with those loyal to him & instead of restoring the old
Roman Republic he set the stage for another CIVIL WAR that ended the
Roman Republic.
Second Triumvirate

After Julius Caesar’s death a second triumvirate is formed by 3 different men;

Eventually 2 of those 3 came to control the entire Roman Empire BUT

The 2 new leaders (Antony & Octavian) came into conflict leading Antony into
an alliance with Egyptian Queen “Cleopatra” (with whom he fell in love &
ultimately committed suicide with) and FINALLY

Octavian (called AUGUSTUS – “The Revered One”) – age 32 – stood supreme
over the entire Roman Empire - & is considered the first EMPEROR of Rome!

Although he claimed to restore the Republic he served as the IMPERATOR
(“commander in Chief”);

He made many political and social changes restoring some of the control to
Roman citizens.

Augustus ruled Rome for 45 years. He created a new political order & restored
many traditional values – BUT – after his death in AD 14 Rome would continue
to be ruled by EMPERORS moving forward. THE ROMAN REPUBLIC HAD ENDED!
What if…?

How different would the world we live in today
look if the Roman Empire never fell (spoiler
alert)?

What if??
Economic challenges due to Roman
Expansion

End of small peasant farmers left Rome unable to compete with imports
from other areas of the Empire (comparative advantage);

Comparative Advantage is a favorable position in a trade relationship –
where imports are cheaper due to a lower set of costs of production;

Effect of this is typically the DOMESTIC goods are inferior to the IMPORTED
goods in quality and they are often more expensive…

BOTH OF THESE THINGS ARE BAD NEWS FOR DOMESTIC FARMERS… and in
the case of Rome – this deepened the poverty experienced by the new
poor class of Roman citizens. These economic & social changes would
contribute to the eventual end of the Roman Empire.

Crash course