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The Rise of the Roman Empire The Republic Collapses • Many or Rome’s rich landowners lived on huge estates. These estates were worked by slaves-many of whom were captured peoples from various wars. • Small farmers found it difficult to compete with the large estates run by labor of enslaved people. Many of the farmers were former soldiers. • This caused the number of urban poor to total about onefourth of Roman society. The Gracchus Brothers • Two brother, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus attempted to help Rome’s poor. • They proposed to limit the size of estates and giving land to the poor. • The brothers made enemies of numerous senators. Both met violent deaths because of this. • Their deaths caused a civil war, of conflict between groups within the same country. Trouble in Rome • The republic was starting to collapse and so was its onceloyal military. • Generals started seizing power for themselves. They recruited soldiers from the landless poor by promising them land. • It was now possible for a military leader supported by his own troops to take over by force. Caesar Takes Control • In 60 B.C., a military leader named Julius Caesar joined forces with Crassus, a wealthy Roman, and Pompey, a popular general. • Caesar was elected consul in 59 B.C. • For the next ten years these three men would dominate Rome as a triumvirate, a group of three rulers. Caesar Takes Control • Caesar was a strong leader and a genius at military strategy. • During 58-50 B.C., Caesar led his legions in a grueling but successful campaign to conquer all of Gaul (now France). • The reports of Caesar’s successes in Gaul made him very popular with the people of Rome. Caesar Takes Control • Caesar’s successes in Gaul made Pompey fear his former ally. • Pompey convinced the senate to disband Caesar’s legions and order them to return home. • This angered Caesar and January 10, 49 B.C., he led his army swiftly toward Rome. Caesar and Cleopatra • Caesar allied himself with the 21 year old co-ruler of Egypt named Cleopatra. • She promised help in the war against Pompey if Caesar would help her overthrow her 12 year-old brother the Pharaoh. • Eventually Caesar had a son with Cleopatra named Caesarian. Caesar Takes Control • With help from Cleopatra, Caesar’s troops defeated Pompey’s armies in Greece, Asia, Spain, and Egypt. • In 46 B.C., Caesar returned to Rome, where he had the support of the army and masses. • That same year the senate appointed him dictator. In 44 B.C., he was named dictator for life. Caesar’s Reforms • Granted Roman citizenship to many people in the provinces. • He expanded the senate, adding his friends and supporters from Italy and other regions. • Caesar also helped the poor by creating jobs, especially through the construction of new public buildings. • He started colonies where people could own property, and he increased pay for soldiers. Caesar’s Reforms • Caesar also gave land to his soldiers and free grain to the poor citizens of Rome. • He changed the way people measured time-creating the basis for our modern calendar. (January - Roman god Janus, March - named for Mars, June named for Juno, July - named for Julius Caesar) Beware the Ides of March • The changes created in Rome made Caesar many enemies in the Senate. • A group of 60 senators, led by Marcus Brutus, felt they only way to protect Rome was to assassinate him. • On March 15, 44 B.C., as Caesar entered the senate chamber, he was stabbed 35 times. Beginning of the Empire • After the murder of Caesar, many people fought for control of Rome. • One of those people was Caesar's youngest sister's grandson Octavian. • Caesar had adopted him as his son so that made him the rightful heir to the rule of Rome. The Second Triumvirate • Octavian joined with an experienced general named Mark Antony and a powerful politician named Lepidus. • The triumvirate tracked down the senators who plotted Caesar’s death and defeated their forces. • They then split the Roman territories among themselves. • Lepidus took over control of the western part, Octavian stayed in Italy and Marc Antony was awarded the East. Mark Antony and Cleopatra • Octavian forced Lepidus to retire. • While leading troops against Rome’s enemies in Anatolia, Mark Antony met and fell in love with Cleopatra. • He was convinced to appoint Caesarion, son of Cleopatra and Caesar as co-ruler of Egypt and legitimate son and inheritor of Caesar’s empire. • Octavian accused Antony of plotting to rule Rome from The Battle of Actium • Another civil war erupted. • Octavian defeated the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra at the naval battle of Actium in 31. B.C. • Later, Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide. Augustus • With the death of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Octavian became the unchallenged ruler of Rome. • Eventually he accepted the title of Augustus, or “exalted one.” • He also kept the title imperator, or “supreme military commander,” a term from which the word emperor is derived. The Pax Romana • Rome was at the peak of its power from the beginning of Augustus’s rule in 27 B.C. to A.D. 108. • For 207 years, peace reigned throughout the empire. This period of peace and prosperity is known as the Pax Romana “Roman peace.” • During this time, the Roman Empire included more than 3 million square miles. Its population numbered between 60 and 80 million people. The Pax Romana • The Romans held their vast empire in part through efficient government and able rulers. • Augustus set a up a government that survived centuries. • He set up a civil service-paid workers to manage the affairs of government. • Although the senate still functioned, civil servants drawn from plebeians and even former slaves actually help run the empire.