Download Fall of the Roman Republic

Fall of the Roman Republic
World History - Libertyville HS
Post Punic War Roman Republic
• Divisions of the People
– Aristocratic classes
• Senators held highest offices,
ruled the state
• Equestrian order were wealthy
non Senators (tax collectors,
speculators)
– City population
• Rabble who lived on charity and
bribes of office holders
• Lived for shows given by the state,
rich people
– Country farmers
• Peasants who used to be
independent farmers
• They lost their lands to rich
creditors
Post Punic War Roman Republic
• Divisions of the People
– Subject population of Italy:
allies who had no political
rights, vote or power
– Other provincial subjects
(Sicily, Spain)
• No power
• Duty to pay tribute
– Slaves: no rights – just
service (POWs)
Problems with the System
• Great mass of people were
excluded from political
rights
• Conquered subjects not part
of Rome, proper
• Voting could only take place
in city of Rome (inefficient)
• Decay of Patriotism
– Men in control of state were
motivated by self interest
– Aristocratic classes were out
for themselves
– Both used state power for their
own gain
Attempts to Reform Republic
• Tiberius Gracchus
– Elected tribune in 133 BC
– Proposed land, social
reforms
• Limit land ownership to
640 acres
• If you owned over 640
acres, land would be
confiscated and
redistributed to poor
– Senate reaction
• Anger, fear vs. Tiberius and
the people; led to
assassination of Tiberius in
132 BC
Attempts to Reform Republic
• Gaius Gracchus
– Elected tribune in 122 BC (reelected 121 BC)
– Social reforms
• Used public money to purchase
grain to be re-sold to poor at low
prices
• Proposed full citizenship for all
Italians
– Senate reaction
• 121 BC: Senate was outraged;
cancelled laws
• Gaius and thousands of his
followers were killed during riot
resisting cancellation
Attempts to Reform Republic
• Lesson from this period?
– Violence became acceptable tool of statecraft
(respect for law declined, esp amongst rich)
– New style of politics introduced
• “Appeal to the masses”
• Ignore patrician class and go straight to the
people, appealing to their passions & interests
Gaius Marius
•
•
•
Marius elected Consul in 107 BC
Marius was a man of the people
Reformed Roman Army
Pre-Marian Army
• Drafted for a particular
conflict
• Non-professional army
which required citizens to
serve
• Personal wealth
determined your place in
the army
Marian Reforms
• Soldiers moved to
professional footing
• Army career opened to
unemployed volunteers
• Non-citizens made up
vast majority of soldiers
Gaius Marius
• Attractions of Army
Career
– Regular pay and
advancement
– Booty!
– Land grant from general,
upon retirement
– Grant of citizenship upon
retirement
• Term of service = 20 years
• Soldiers often given land in
newly conquered areas
(militia)
Significance of Marian Reforms
• Army became more
efficient and effective
• Army became a more
flexible fighting force
• Army became loyal to
a general, NOT the
Roman state or senate
Attempts to Reform Republic
• Sulla, elected Consul in 88 BC
• Sulla was a patrician (prosenate)
• After consul term expired,
Marius and his allies tried to
block Sulla from getting a
customary generalship
• In response, Sulla marched his
army on Rome
• Civil War, 87 to 82 BC
• Sulla victorious, executed 100s
who opposed him
Attempts to Reform Republic
• Sulla = Patrician “Counter
reform”
– Restoration of Senate
powers
• Reduced powers of assembly
• Increased size of Senate
• Placed all powers of
government in hands of
Senate
• Used army to kill opponents to
Senate
– Sulla resigned power, died
peacefully in 78 BC
Julius Caesar
• Very astute politician
– Relative of Marius (pro Senate
family)
– Recognized that power rested
with the people
– Supported extending
citizenship to all Italians
• Fantastic speaker and
brilliant general (Spain,
Gaul)
– Upon return from Spain, he
demanded a victory parade –
great political tool
– Senate refused, fearing his
popularity
Julius Caesar
• Caesar persuaded Pompey,
Crassus to join him to seize
power
• Formed First Triumverate
(Pompey: General; Crassus:
rich!)
• Rise of Julius Caesar is
considered the beginning of
the end of the Republic –
Why?
– Power rested w/ 3 men, not
Senate / Assembly
– 2 of three men were generals =
military control
First Triumverate
• What did each man gain?
– Pompey (army rewarded)
– Crassus (more money!)
– Caesar (military command)
• Caesar knew that the way to
power was through military
success
–
–
–
–
Army gave general loyal army
Army gave general power base
Army gave general wealth
Army gave general
popularity, prestige
Caesar, in Gaul
• Caesar needed to achieve
military success
• Goal was political, NOT
military, power
– Needed to conquer
somewhere close to Rome
– Appearance of threat to
Rome so he could “save”
the state
• Chose Gaul (France)
– Caesar / army conquered
all of France, Belgium
– Invaded Britain twice
Caesar, in Gaul
• What happened in
conquered territories?
– Caesar allowed self
government of surviving tribes
– Gauls saw advantages of
adopting Roman customs, way
of life
– Romanization: assimilating
outsiders into Roman system
– Settlers, colonists followed
Caesar’s armies and settled,
further “romanizing” the area
End of First Triumverate
• What were 1st Triumverate
members doing?
– Crassus killed in battle
– Caesar fighting in Gaul
– Pompey getting jealous
• Senate declared Caesar an
“enemy of the state”
• Demanded he give up his
army and return to Rome
for trial – certain death
• Why? Afraid of his power,
popularity
Overthrowing the Republic
• 49 BC: Caesar decided
to “Cross the Rubicon”
– Traditionally, no armies
allowed in Italy unless
under control of Senate
– Rubicon river = border
– “Crossing the Rubicon”
meant someone
committing an
irreversible course of
action
• Result? Civil War!
Overthrowing the Republic
• Pompey vs. Caesar
– Caesar defeated Pompey
(assassinated)
• Caesar’s dictatorship
– Caesar campaigned against
Parthians (revenge /
Crassus)
– “Veni, vedi, vici”
• 46 BC: Returned to Rome
where Senate appointed
him dictator for 10 years
– Elevated Caesar above laws,
constitution
• 44 BC: appointed dictator
for life
Dictator Caesar
• Caesar’s reforms aimed at
improving common
man’s life
– Senate: made it advisory
– Expanded voting to all
Italians, provinces, & Gaul
– Encouraged colonies to
expand farmer class,
romanization
– Made serious effort to
break down distinctions
between patrician &
plebeian, Italian &
provincial (all Romans)
Caesar’s Fall
• Many patrician
Romans hated,
resented Caesar’s
assumption of power
• March 15, 44 BC
– Group of senators
assassinate Caesar in
Senate
– “Et Tu Brute?” - last
words (ID friend)