Download Rome Becomes an Empire…

Rome Becomes
an Empire…
Pre-AP World History
Chapter 6.2 (pages 146-150)
The Big Picture
• Angry poor people, power-hungry generals,
and ambitious politicians threatened the
Roman Republic. There was a widening gap
between the rich and poor.
• Julius Caesar gained absolute control of the
republic but did not rule long.
• After Caesar was assassinated, Augustus
founded an empire that enjoyed peace and
prosperity for about 207 years. We call this
Pax Romana.
Conflicts at
Home as Rome
begins to expand
So What’s Happening in Rome at This Point?
The Gap Between Rich & Poor is Growing
• Wealthy Romans buy up lands from small farmers who
were off fighting in wars creating Latifundia (large
estates)
• These wealthy Romans are ignoring their civic duties–
just want $
• The Latifundias (large estates) used slave labor so small
farmers couldn’t compete = massive unemployment
• Unemployed moved to cities (bread & circuses)
• Corruption (i.e. Roman governors stealing)
• As differences increased between rich and poor, there was
a constant threat of uprisings
Slave revolts
• SPARTACUS
– Former Greek mercenary
– Led slave revolt
– 70,000 slaves
– Cost Rome:
•
•
•
•
Men
Money
Resources
Weakened confidence in leadership
The reformers
• The Gracchi brothers – Tiberius and Gaius
• Wanted to restore the small farms
• Wanted to institute land reform by limiting
the sizes of Latifundias. Wanted to give the
land to the poor.
• Both were assassinated
• Assassination becomes the new political
tool
Attempts at Reform
Fail
The Writing is on the wall-The days of the Republic were numbered!
A Civil War results
• Generals who had conquered
other lands wanted power at
home
– Hired poor farmers as soldiers
who became loyal to generals
• Generals began civil war –
(war between groups within
same country)
– A general named Marius
fought for the plebeians
– A general named Sulla fought
for the patricians
• Patricians won in 82 B.C.E.;
Sulla became dictator
Review
Question:
Who fought in the
civil war?
Eventually,
Caesar
Julius
emerged to
bring order to Rome
An Ambitious General
• After Sulla’s death,
other generals rose to
power
• One was Julius Caesar
– born around 100
B.C.E. into an old,
noble family that had
lost most of its wealth
Military Leader
• Caesar fought in
Asia Minor and
Spain
• He proved himself a
great general in a
military campaign
against Gaul
– Caesar’s conquest of
Gaul brought him
fame and fortune
First Triumvirate
• A Triumvirate is rule by three people
• Caesar formed the First Triumvirate with
Pompey and Crassus in which they would rule
equally
Dictator for Life
• Caesar--great politician, reformer (popular w/plebeians)
• Many powerful Romans, including patrician senators
distrusted Caesar
• Pompey (former ally/Triumvirate) began to fear Caesar
• Senate ordered Caesar to return from Gaul and to
disband army (at Pompey’s suggestion)
• Caesar instead led army to Italy, and fought Pompey for
control (a civil war); Pompey flees
• The First Triumvirate (three rulers) was done. (Cassus
had previously died in battle)
• Senate appointed Caesar dictator for life in 44 B.C.E.
Table Talk…
• We know that when Rome became a republic,
a guiding principle to the formation of the
republic and its constitution was that power
would not rest in the hands of one sole person.
How does that jive with Caesar being made a
dictator for life?
• What’s another name we could call Caesar?
(Another name for Dictator for life?)
• If we could call Caesar king, then why didn’t
they?
Caesar’s reforms
• Caesar was an absolute
ruler, but started some
reforms
– Expanded Senate, enforced
laws, created jobs (public
works projects), set-up
colonies to give land to
poor, gave out free grain,
set-up the Julian calendar
(365 days + leap year )
Either you loved him
or you hated him
Some people thought Caesar
was a wise ruler who brought
peace to Rome
Others thought he was a
tyrant who wanted to be
King, and create a dynasty
Assassination! And His
Legacy
Caesar was assassinated
on March 15, 44 B.C.E.
by a group of senators
(led by Brutus)
– They repeatedly
stabbed him on the
Senate floor
– Groups’ leaders were
eventually killed or
committed suicide
Review Question:
Why was Caesar killed?
Emperors Rule
Rome
Essential Question:
What happened to Rome
after Caesar’s death?
Civil War happened
• After Caesar’s death, civil war
destroyed what was left of republic
– A Second Triumvirate was formed
which included Octavian (Caesar’s
nephew and adopted son) and Marc
Antony (ill-fated lover of Cleopatra)
– Octavian changed name to Augustus
Caesar (Augustus means “exalted one”)
– Augustus wanted more power and a
civil war broke out between in which
he led Roman legions against Marc
Antony and his Egyptian allies
– Augustus won and became Rome’s
first emperor
– This effectively ended the Roman
Republic
again
Spread of
slavery in the
agricultural
system
Migration of
small farmers
into cities and
unemployment
Causes for the
decline of the
Roman Republic
Civil war over
the power of
Julius Caesar
Devaluation of
Roman currency;
inflation
Rome
Becomes an
empire
ruled by one man
Augustus
Welcome to imperial
Rome
Augustus Rebuilds
Rome
• Augustus became
Rome’s first emperor
– Used title “first citizen”
– But fails to provide for
successor
– Controlled provinces,
strengthened defenses,
began civil service
– Beautified Rome by
building temples,
theaters, monuments
The Roman Peace
• Augustus’ reign began
Pax Romana – long
period of peace and
stability (207 years)
under Imperial rule.
– Empire grew to greatest
size, 3 million miles with
1 million people living
in Rome
• Roman army of 300,000
men became greatest
fighting force in world
Pax Romana
Two centuries of peace and
prosperity under imperial
rule
Expansion and
solidification of the
Roman Empire,
particularly in the Near
East occurred during the
Pax Romana
Rome after augustus
• Pax Romana continued after Augustus’ death
in A.D. 14
• The Peace lasted for 207 years (two centuries)
– Empire continues to thrive under government
begun by Augustus
• Imperial Rome failed to provide for peaceful
succession of Emperors
• Rome was unified and enlarged. It was using
imperial authority and the military.
Agriculture and Trade
= A strong economy
•
•
•
•
•
Agriculture = most important industry
90 % of people engaged in farming
Denarius (silver coins) made trade easier
Vast trading network (including India & China)
Complex network of Silk Road/Army Roads linked
Rome to far-away places (southern Russia)
• Romans produced pottery, metal goods, glass, wine,
olive oil & brought back grain, ivory, silk, spices,
gold and silver
Currency—
Denarius coins
• During the Pax Romana, a uniform system of
money was established, which helped to
expand trade.
Other impacts of The
Pax Romana
• Provided safe travel & trade on Roman roads
• Promoted economic prosperity and stability
• Established uniform system of money, which
helped to expand trade
• Returned stability to social classes (jobs)
• Increased emphasis on the family
• Created a civil service
• Developed a uniform rule of law
Summary
• The results of Roman expansion produced
social conflict and civil war.
• Julius Caesar gained power and became a
dictator and was assassinated .
• The reign of Augustus Caesar began a long
period of imperial rule and peace in the
Roman Empire.
• The Roman Republic became the Roman
Empire.
Why It Matters
Now…
Rome faced many of the same
problems that we face today of
how to maintain peace, law, and
order.