RomeRome

From a Republic to an EmpireFrom a Republic to an Empire

To ConsiderTo Consider

• What groups of people originally What groups of people originally stood in the way of Rome’s stood in the way of Rome’s Mediterranean domination and what Mediterranean domination and what became of them?became of them?

• How did Rome differ from Greece How did Rome differ from Greece and how did this make them more and how did this make them more successful?successful?

• What went wrong with the republic?What went wrong with the republic?

The End of the RepublicThe End of the Republic

• The old city constitution could no longer The old city constitution could no longer hold up with the expanding territoryhold up with the expanding territory

• Sulla had two political heirsSulla had two political heirs– Julius (a politician) and Pompey (a general Julius (a politician) and Pompey (a general

who had teamed up with Crassus [a banker])who had teamed up with Crassus [a banker])– Julius became consul in 59 BCJulius became consul in 59 BC

• Formed the first triumvirateFormed the first triumvirate

The Triumvirate FailsThe Triumvirate Fails

• All three spend their years in battleAll three spend their years in battle• Crassus died fighting leaving Pompey and Julius to Crassus died fighting leaving Pompey and Julius to

rulerule• Each was suspicious of the other and eventually Each was suspicious of the other and eventually

civil war broke out civil war broke out • Pompey snuggled up with the senate and had their Pompey snuggled up with the senate and had their

official support official support • They demanded that Julius relinquish his authorityThey demanded that Julius relinquish his authority• Julius marched on Rome and defeated him in 45 BC Julius marched on Rome and defeated him in 45 BC • The Senate accepted his victory and appointed him The Senate accepted his victory and appointed him

dictator for 10 years dictator for 10 years

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

• Julius gains the title of Caesar as the Julius gains the title of Caesar as the momentum of his authority increasedmomentum of his authority increased

• Senatorial class was uneasy with his Senatorial class was uneasy with his powerpower

• 44 BC Caesar is killed by conspirators44 BC Caesar is killed by conspirators• Another civil war ensuesAnother civil war ensues• Second triumvirateSecond triumvirate

– Octavian, Marc Antony, LepidusOctavian, Marc Antony, Lepidus

Augustus CaesarAugustus Caesar

• Octavian and Antony go head to Octavian and Antony go head to head for powerhead for power

• Octavian brands Antony as a traitor Octavian brands Antony as a traitor and get Rome on his sideand get Rome on his side

• He defeats the army and navy of He defeats the army and navy of Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCActium in 31 BC

• Octavian becomes Augustus CaesarOctavian becomes Augustus Caesar

The Pax RomanaThe Pax Romana

• Virgil writes:Virgil writes:You, Roman, remember- these are your arts:You, Roman, remember- these are your arts:To rule nations and to impose the ways of peace,To rule nations and to impose the ways of peace,To spare the humble and to war down the proud.To spare the humble and to war down the proud.

• Augustus could have declared himself Augustus could have declared himself dictator but didn’t dictator but didn’t

• He claimed to restore the republic but he He claimed to restore the republic but he created a constitutional monarchy insteadcreated a constitutional monarchy instead– Called himself Called himself princepsprinceps or First Citizen or First Citizen

The Rise to Emperor and The Rise to Emperor and BeyondBeyond• 12 BC he became Pontifex Maximus12 BC he became Pontifex Maximus

– Made him head of the state religionMade him head of the state religion• Because of his military success he became Because of his military success he became

Imperator, which eventually came to mean EmperorImperator, which eventually came to mean Emperor• He built a more professional army as an arm of the He built a more professional army as an arm of the

governmentgovernment• He also handled Roman colonies as part of the He also handled Roman colonies as part of the

Empire, not independent settlements as the Greeks Empire, not independent settlements as the Greeks had donehad done

• Eventually he became associated with the Goddess Eventually he became associated with the Goddess of the state Romaof the state Roma

• By his death in 14 AD almost every province had an By his death in 14 AD almost every province had an altar to Roma and Augustusaltar to Roma and Augustus

ExpansionExpansion

• Rome always had problems with the Rome always had problems with the Gauls (Celts) and other tribes living Gauls (Celts) and other tribes living north and west of the roman borders. north and west of the roman borders.

• Augustus created buffer zones with Augustus created buffer zones with forts and military outposts in these forts and military outposts in these areas, protecting the Italian Romans areas, protecting the Italian Romans from hostility. from hostility.

• Roman Peace is establishedRoman Peace is established

The Julio-ClaudiansThe Julio-Claudians• Tiberius 14-37 ADTiberius 14-37 AD

– Step-son of Augustus, good military leader, followed Augustus’ Step-son of Augustus, good military leader, followed Augustus’ footsteps, was frugal, and eventually retired to Capri (senility)footsteps, was frugal, and eventually retired to Capri (senility)

• Caligula 37-41Caligula 37-41– Grand-nephew of Tiberius, started off OK but got sick and went Grand-nephew of Tiberius, started off OK but got sick and went

nuts, spent all of Tiberius’ treasury and began to charge rich nuts, spent all of Tiberius’ treasury and began to charge rich families with treason to steal their money, was killed by the families with treason to steal their money, was killed by the praetorian guardpraetorian guard

• Claudius 41-54Claudius 41-54– Found by the guard hidden behind the curtains, had physical Found by the guard hidden behind the curtains, had physical

handicaps, turned out to be a good leader with respect for the handicaps, turned out to be a good leader with respect for the senate, concerned with citizenship to provincials, in the end he senate, concerned with citizenship to provincials, in the end he married Caligula’s sister Agrippina who then plotted to kill him.married Caligula’s sister Agrippina who then plotted to kill him.

• Nero 54-68Nero 54-68– Agrippina’s son, 16 years old, his rule was dominated by his Agrippina’s son, 16 years old, his rule was dominated by his

mother, he tried several times to kill her, he finally killed her mother, he tried several times to kill her, he finally killed her and his wife so that he could marry his mistress, he forced and his wife so that he could marry his mistress, he forced people to attend his concerts, speculations relating to the great people to attend his concerts, speculations relating to the great fires of Rome, the senate sentenced him to death, he killed fires of Rome, the senate sentenced him to death, he killed himself and said “Oh what a great artist the world is losing”himself and said “Oh what a great artist the world is losing”

The FlaviansThe Flavians• After the death of Nero several people claimed to be After the death of Nero several people claimed to be

emperor but Flavian Vespasian had the upper handemperor but Flavian Vespasian had the upper hand– He too gave citizenship to conquered territories and did a He too gave citizenship to conquered territories and did a

good job keeping down invadersgood job keeping down invaders

• Titus 79-81Titus 79-81– Son of Vespasian, continued what his father started but Son of Vespasian, continued what his father started but

died earlydied early

• Domitian 81-96Domitian 81-96– Least popular of this crew, was disrespectful toward the Least popular of this crew, was disrespectful toward the

senate, insisted on being called Lord and Master, did a senate, insisted on being called Lord and Master, did a terrible job, blamed Christians and Jews on the misfortune terrible job, blamed Christians and Jews on the misfortune and persecuted them severely, was finally murderedand persecuted them severely, was finally murdered

The 5 Good Emperors and the Other The 5 Good Emperors and the Other GuyGuy• Nerva, an old senator succeeded Nerva, an old senator succeeded

– Ruled for only 2 years but trained his own successorRuled for only 2 years but trained his own successor• Trajan 98-117Trajan 98-117

– A Spaniard (1A Spaniard (1stst emperor not of Italian origin), well liked, good military emperor not of Italian origin), well liked, good military ruler, Rome reached its greatest extent, on his death bed he chose ruler, Rome reached its greatest extent, on his death bed he chose another Spaniardanother Spaniard

• Hadrian 117-138Hadrian 117-138– Modified the code of laws, retreated borders, reorganized army, Modified the code of laws, retreated borders, reorganized army,

Hadrian’s wallHadrian’s wall• Antonius Pius 138-161Antonius Pius 138-161

– Wealthy senator from Gaul, selected by Hadrian, climax of the Pax Wealthy senator from Gaul, selected by Hadrian, climax of the Pax Romana, put Rome on the defensive as opposed to the offensiveRomana, put Rome on the defensive as opposed to the offensive

• Marcus Aurelius 161-180Marcus Aurelius 161-180– Stoic philosopher, wrote Stoic philosopher, wrote MeditationsMeditations, had to deal with sever fighting in , had to deal with sever fighting in

Dacia where 25% of the population died, was stricken by plague Dacia where 25% of the population died, was stricken by plague fighting in present-day Austriafighting in present-day Austria

• Commodus (the not so great) 180-192Commodus (the not so great) 180-192– Marcus broke tradition allowing his son to rule, he should have Marcus broke tradition allowing his son to rule, he should have

appointed a suitable successor, Commodus was hated as he became a appointed a suitable successor, Commodus was hated as he became a megalomaniac, he thought he was the reincarnation of Hercules, megalomaniac, he thought he was the reincarnation of Hercules, finally the senate killed him and removed al record of his rule from the finally the senate killed him and removed al record of his rule from the lists.lists.