Download From Republic to Empire

6th Grade UBD - Unit 7 - From Republic to Empire

Rome Becomes an Empire- Julius Caesar’s defeat
of Pompey led to the end of the Roman Republic
and the founding of the Roman Empire.

The Growth of the Empire- The Roman Empire
grew quickly in its first 100 years. At last, it grew too
large to be governed easily.

In ancient Rome a dictator was
selected to rule the country in
a time of war or other crisis
and was expected to return
power to the regular
government once the crisis
was over. What do you think of
when you think of a dictator?
( 4 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
answer with theirs.
What things are
the same and what
things are
different? (3
minutes)

Caesar was originally Pompey’s ally in the First Triumvirate.

Caesar’s victory in Gaul gave him the political strength to
defeat Pompey.

Some members of the Roman Senate were worried about
Caesar’s growing power. As a result, they assassinated him.

Octavian, Caesar’s nephew, won the civil war that followed
Caesar’s death. He became Augustus, the emperor.

Rome’s transition from
republic to empire had a
great impact on its
citizens.

Under the republic, the
Roman people had the
ability to choose their own
leaders and
representatives.
Video- Caesars Path to Power
Reading Handout- Augustus Caesar Father of Rome
Key Term
Julius Caesar- A
Roman general and
statesman. He was
also a prolific writer.
He laid the
groundwork for the
transformation of
Rome from a republic
to an empire.

With the rise of Julius Caesar
and the creation of the
Roman Empire, people lost
their right to choose their
leaders.

The government was led by
emperors whose power to
rule was passed on through
their family lines.

The creation of the empire
greatly limited citizens’
political rights, and this
political system was marked
by violence and disorder.

However, it also led to many
benefits, including
expansion, wealth, and
diversity.

Caesar was very
ambitious. He served in
the Roman military and
was a skillful soldier.

He also was a clever
politician and a skilled
writer and speaker.

In its early years, Rome was a
republic guided by
democratic political beliefs.

After a series of successes in
the Punic Wars, Rome grew
larger and stronger. At that
time it was ruled by a
triumvirate, a group of three
leaders.
Key Term
TriumvirateIn ancient
Rome a
triumvirate was
a ruling
commission of
three officials.

One of these leaders,
Julius Caesar, used military
successes to increase his
power.

He then defeated his main
rival in the triumvirate,
Pompey, and declared
himself the sole ruler of
Rome.

After Julius Caesar
declared himself the sole
ruler of Rome the
government began the
process by which it
ceased to be a republic
and became an empire.

Caesar’s rise ushered in a
time of great expansion
and success as well as
great turmoil.

Roman territory began to
grow tremendously, and
many of Rome’s common
people loved their new
leader.

However, a group of
senators, fearing
Caesar’s unrestrained
power, assassinated him.

This act led to a lengthy
and bloody civil war in
Rome.
Key Term
Ides of March- A
day on the Roman
calendar that
corresponds to 15
March. It has
became notorious
as the date of the
assassination of
Julius Caesar.
Key Term
Assassinate- To
murder (an
important person)
in a surprise
attack for political
or religious
reasons.
Video- The Murder of Caesar

The civil war in Rome, finally
ended with the ascension of
Octavian as the emperor
Augustus.

Augustus and future
emperors expanded the
Roman Empire even farther
and spread Roman influences
across much of the world.
Video- The First Emperor

Although the Roman
Empire flourished for
many years, its
political situation
remained one of
instability and
violence.

Rome’s place on the Mediterranean Sea and its warm
climate made it easy to grow food.

Conquered nations were absorbed into the Roman
Empire. Cities were built to look like Rome, and the
Roman culture was passed on to the new citizens.

The empire was run in an orderly fashion. However,
the transfer of the role of emperor involved many
cruel acts.
Key Term
Pax RomanaLatin for “Roman
Peace.”

The Pax Romana brought an
end to the inside fighting
that had existed in Rome
since the time of Caesar.

During this period, Rome’s
growth brought great riches
and new ways of doing things
to the empire and its people.
Video- Roman Buildings

There was a strong sense
of similarity among Roman
cities.

They all were designed and
built to look like one
another.

All Roman cities had a
theater and temples set
aside for different gods.

They also had aqueducts
to carry water through
the city, and they all had
public bathhouses.

Buildings in even the
most distant provinces
were designed the same
as those in Rome.
Key Term
Aqueduct- An
artificial waterway
designed to carry
water from one
place to another.
The word comes
from the Latin aqua,
meaning “water.”

Many people were happy
to become a part of
Rome.

The Romans brought
many advantages,
including better
architecture, education,
and health.

A common
language, calendar,
religion, and form of
money helped tie
the Roman Empire
together.

Citizens anywhere in the Roman Empire also were treated
the same way. They spoke Latin and used the same form
of money.

They also used the same calendar. It was called the Julian
calendar. It was named after Julius Caesar, its creator.

These details meant that all cities and all people in the
empire were connected. This was even true of cities that
Rome conquered and added to its growing empire.
Reading Handout- Ancient Rome

What has been the
“muddiest” point so far in
this lesson? That is, what
topic remains the least
clear to you? (4 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
muddiest point with
theirs. Compare
what things are the
same and what
things are different?
(3 minutes)