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Rome: Dawn of the Empire
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The End of the Republic
No written constitution – gov’t based
on traditions
Administration carried out by elected
officials, who answer to the senate
and the people
But violence and intimidation start to
become the norm, and the whole
system gradually disintegrates
The “Roman Revolution”
The End of the Republic
Civil wars ensue (49 – 45 BCE), and
general Julius Caesar emerges as the
victor
Caesar doesn’t really implement
much in terms of gov’t reform
The people and senate love him…
he’s granted lots of titles (only refuses
kingship)
Julius Caesar
“Veni Vidi Vici”
I came, I saw, I conquered
The End of the Republic
Caesar (dictator for life) may not
officially be a king, but he rules like
one
A group of nobles (including members
of his own party) assassinate him on
March 15 44 BCE
Public opinion was not on their side,
and they had to flee Rome
Surprise!
Caesar’s right-hand man Mark Antony is
basically left in charge, but…
Caesar’s will names one of his greatnephews (Octavius) as his heir and
adopted son
Octavius also inherits most of Caesar’s
allies
There’s a power struggle between he and
Mark Antony, which Octavian wins in 31
BCE (Battle of Actium)
The First Emperor
Octavian appears before the Senate in 27
BCE offering to retire from politics
Instead, the Senate increases his powers
and makes them lifelong, awarding him the
title of Augustus
the elevated or divine one
He remains in office until he dies in 14 CE
While he did restore some powers to the
Senate, he ruled with almost absolute
authority
controlled state finance, laws, foreign policy
and religion, shaped Roman society as the
republic was transformed into the empire
Augustus Caesar
“Marmoream relinquo,
quam latericiam
accepi”
I found Rome a city of
bricks and left it a city
of marble
The Emperors that followed…
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