Download The Death of the Republic and the Demise of an Empire

The Death of the Republic
and the Demise of an
Empire
The Slow but Steady Decline and Fall of the Roman
Empire
From Republic to Empire
  The Roman Republic, a civilization ruled by
the people, would slowly fall apart, to be
replaced by the Roman Empire, led by single
individuals.
  Triumvirates or dictatorships
  This consolidation of power in a single source
would weaken and eventually break Rome.
The Reign of Caesar
• 
• 
• 
Brilliant General, conquered Gaul and had the loyalty of the Army
Caesar, Crassus and Pompey formed the First Triumvirate
The Roman Senate feared the power of Caesar and ordered him to
disband his army
“NOPE.”
- Caesar
The Crossing of the Rubicon
Crossed the Rubicon River into Rome, seized power from the
triumvirate and was declared dictator for life
•  Caesar expanded citizenship, increased soldier’s pay, created jobs
and earned the love of the people
• 
Beware the Ides of March!
Fearing Caesar’s power, several senators, led by Brutus and Cassius,
formed a conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.
•  On March 15, 44 BCE Caesar was struck down by 35 wounds and
died by the statue of Pompey in Rome.
• 
“Friends, Romans,
Countrymen…”
The Aftermath
Rome is plunged into civil war, a second
triumvirate emerges and is soon defeated by
Augustus, who becomes Rome’s first true
Emperor. “Rule by the people” no longer exists.
Pax Romana
•  Time of peace, leisure, city building, trade,
profit, stability and civil service
•  Ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius in
180 CE
Rome Begins to Weaken
Factors of the
weakening economy:
- Hostile tribes/pirates
disrupted trade
- Lack of new sources of
gold/silver
- Raised taxes for more
revenue
- Made more money
with less silver
INFLATION: drop in
value of $$ and rise in
prices
Factors of agricultural
decline:
- Harvest meager (over
worked land)
- War destroyed lands
- Food shortage =
starvation and disease =
drop in population
Military and Political Turmoil
Military issues:
- Less discipline and loyalty
- Allegiance to commander NOT Rome
- Recruited mercenaries (hired soldiers) to protect gov’t
- Loss in patriotism
Political Issues:
- Government officials began taking bribes
- Wealthy citizens not required to pay taxes
- Frequent disagreements over power
Rome Divided
•  Rome too large to defend from enemies
•  Emperor Diocletian divided the Empire into two
separate states
•  Christianity begins to spread and religion divided the
people
Constantine
•  Rules over both Eastern and Western Rome
•  First Christian Emperor
•  Moved the capital of the Empire to Byzantium
Western Empire Crumbles
  Decline took many years (internal struggles and external
pressures)
  Huns moving on Germanic Tribes, causing Germanic Tribes
to push on the Northern Border of Rome.
  Rome overrun by “barbarians” in 476 CE
 
 
 
Barbarians = Non- Romans
Weakened Rome is unable to resist
Germanic Tribes plunder and burn Rome
Rome Falls, Byzantium Emerges
•  Western Rome burns and is divided into different Germanic
Kingdoms (mainly the Vandals, Ostrogoths and Visigoths)
•  Eastern Rome prospers for another 1000 years as Byzantium