Download I. From Republic to Empire

Roman Senator debating
Emperor Trajan

Republic – a
government in
which the
people vote on
representatives
to run the
government on
their behalf

By 265 BCE, Rome controlled all
of Italy
◦ Large military of citizen
soldiers
◦ Imperialism – Establishing
control over foreign
lands/peoples
◦ Conquered lands became
provinces
◦ Rome depended on riches
gained from conquering people

As Rome expanded westward,
came into contact & conflict with
Carthage

264 - 146 BCE. Rome vs. Carthage
◦ Carthage & Rome are equals

First war: Rome wins

Second war: Rome wins
◦ Captured Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia (trade)
◦ Carthage attack: Hannibal (Carthage)
marches army into Italy from North, while
Rome expects attack from South
◦ For 15 years, Hannibal’s army crushes
Italy, but stopped at Rome.
 Rome attacked N. Africa in 202 BCE,
forcing Hannibal to return to defend his
homeland.
◦ After this, Carthage no longer a threat to

Third Punic War (149 BCE)
◦ Rome decides to destroy Carthage,
with popular support.
◦ Rome defeats Carthage (146 BCE)
 Kill or sell into slavery all survivors
 Burn the harbor
 Pour salt onto the farmland so
nothing would ever grow

Rome is now top dog in the
Mediterranean


By 133 BCE, Rome extended from Spain
to Egypt
Roman farmers fell into debt, due to
influx of slaves & grain from conquered
lands.

Attempts at government reform failed

Civil war

◦ Senate – in power
◦ Political/Military leaders – popular among
people
◦ Bread and Circuses – used to control
population
Military general Julius Caesar marches
army on Rome, taking senate’s power
away & forcing them to make him
dictator for life

Julius Caesar (44 BCE)

Nephew Octavian takes over
(renamed Augustus)
◦ Senate thought Julius wanted to be king
◦ Stabbed to death by the Senate, leading
to another civil war.
◦ Gave people jobs based on talent, not
connections
◦ Took a census to collect better taxes
(census = population count)
◦ Brings in 200 years of Roman Peace (Pax
Romana)
◦ Republic comes to an end

Rome is now an EMPIRE
◦ Empire – a territory ruled by a single,
supreme authority (not hereditary)