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Roman Empire Expansion • Rome’s expansion led to some problems • People became greedy and forgot the values that made them strong • Many slaves from conquered peoples were sent to Rome • The rich could afford to buy them and expand the land they used – including public lands • Small family farms could not compete with the large estates • Many people sold their small farms and moved to the city • The cities had a growing landless poor population Closure # 1 • What effect did expansion have on Rome? Reforms • Some powerful people were concerned over the plight of the small farmers • Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (brothers) tried • They proposed taking back public lands and giving it to small farmers and lowering the price of food to help the plebeians. • The wealthy and powerful were angry over this – because they would loose money and land • They conspired to have the brothers murdered • Their attempt at reforms brought in an era of instability Closure #2 • What were the reforms meant to do? Army Changes • The backbone of the Roman Army had always been small farmers • Since their numbers were declining, a Roman general came up with a new way • Marius recruited soldiers from the cities, promising land for service • Marius had volunteers swear an oath of loyalty to the general, not the state • In order to get the Senate to authorize the giving of land the Generals had to become involved in politics. • These changes left a powerful legacy • With soldiers loyal to a specific general, the Army would be the basis of power from now on. • Example – Sulla 82 BC Closure #3 • Why do American troops swear to uphold the Constitution and defend the United States? From Republic to Empire • For the next 50 years Rome was torn apart by civil wars. • One general, Julius Caesar, defeated all the others and took power • He made changes to the government • He was made dictator (absolute ruler) in 45 BC. This was usually a temporary position • The Senators feared that he would keep the position for life, so they murdered him on the Senate floor. • Another round of civil wars resulted. • The victor, Octavian, was Caesar’s grandnephew and heir (the person who inherits your stuff) • Even though he kept the Senate, he held all the real power • In 27 BC he was given the title Augustus (the revered one) • Augustus becomes the first Roman Emperor • After so much war the people are happy to have a stable government, even if it is a dictator. Closure #4 • How did Rome go from a Republic to an Empire? Pax Romana 27 BC – 180 AD • The next four Emperors were from Augustus line • (Caligula) • (If you are interested in this time period I recommend a movie called I Claudius) • After the last of Augustus line died/was killed (69 BC), another round of civil wars followed • This was part of the problem with their system of government, if your power is based on the Army, you have to make sure you have a good man take your place • Around 100 AD, a series of five good emperors began. • These included Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius • They made good choices, expanded the empire, selected good heirs, were tolerant of others • The time period starting with Augustus and lasting through the five good emperors was known as the Pax Romana or Roman peace. • It was a period stable government and relative peace. Closure #5 • Why did the Pax Romana last so long? Height of the Roman Empire