Rome: Republic to Empire

After the Punic Wars, conquests and control of busy trade routes brought incredible riches into Rome. Generals, officials, and traders amassed huge fortunes from loot, taxes, and commerce. A new class of wealthy Romans emerged. They built lavish mansions and filled them with luxuries imported from the east. Wealthy families bought up huge estates called “Latifundia.” As the Romans conquered more and more lands, they forced people captured in war to work as slaves on the Latifundia instead of offering them full citizenship through the Roman Confederation.

The widespread use of slave labor hurt small farmers, who were unable to produce food as cheaply as the Latifundia could. The farmers’ problems were compounded when huge quantities of grain pouring in from the conquered lands drove down grain prices. Many farmers fell into debt and had to sell their land.

In despair, landless farmers flocked to Rome and other cities looking for jobs. There, they joined an already restless class of unemployed people. As the gap between rich and poor widened, angry mobs began to riot. In addition, the new wealth led to increased corruption. Greed and self-interest replaced virtues such as simplicity, hard work, and devotion to duty, which had been so prized in the time of the early republic. Members of the Senate and House of Plebs were frequently bribed by the rich to overlook the vast inequalities that were forming. Rome was on the edge of utter chaos and civil war.

What would you do to solve the problem?

The Army Offers a Solution• 107 B.C.

– Roman general Marius becomes consul, offers a solution.

– Poor farmers should join the army!

• Generals promised land for their service!

• Increases power of generals.

How might this lead to future problems?

• Powerful generals will use their armies to try to seize political power!– Sulla, 82 B.C.

An Age of Civil WarsThe next 50 years of Roman

history were characterized by chaos – civil wars, slave revolts, and a still corrupt senate. During this time, three generals made an alliance to dominate Rome.

• Triumvirate– A government ruled

by three people with equal power.

• The First Triumvirate– Crassus– Pompey– Julius Caesar

Triumvirate to DictatorThe First Triumvirate was so powerful

that the senate couldn’t help but listen to them. They dominated Roman politics together until Crassus died in battle in 53 B.C.

• Pompey and Caesar quickly become rivals.

• Senate fears Julius Caesar’s popularity.– Sends Caesar a note

relieving him of command of his legions.• He refuses.

– Caesar marches on Rome• “Crossing the Rubicon”• Pompey flees

Triumvirate to Dictator• Caesar forces senate to

vote him “dictator for life”– Then uses his army

to hunt down and kill Pompey.

Though a dictator, Julius Caesar uses his power to bring about many popular reforms

• Caesar’s reforms– Gave government

lands to the poor.– Increased number of

Senators to 900.– New “Julian” Calendar.

Dictator back to TriumvirateThough Julius Caesar was mostly

popular in the eyes of the people, the wealthiest Patrician Senators hated him for taking away their power.

• Caesar’s death.– Assassinated by Senate in 44

B.C.• Who should be his successor?• Three men wanted the job.

Because Caesar never named a successor, the Senate instituted the “Second Triumvirate”

– The Second Triumvirate• Octavian

– Caesar’s nephew• Marc Antony

– Caesar’s right hand man• Lepidus

– Caesar’s cavalry general

Another Civil WarThe Second Triumvirate ruled Rome

for nearly a decade until the death of Lepidus.

• Octavian vs. Marc Antony– Octavian wins in the

battle of Actium, 31 B.C.– Marc Antony flees back to

Egypt where he and his girlfriend Cleopatra commit suicide.

• A Roman “Emperor”– When Octavian returned

to Rome, the Senate gave him a few new titles.

– “Imperator” = Emperor– “Augustus” = Revered One

Augustus CaesarNow the first “Emperor” of Rome,

Augustus used the army to consolidate his power…

• Reforms of Augustus– Huge army

• 150,000 legionnaires• 150,000 auxilary troops

– Emperor given the power to appoint governors in the provinces.

• Gave him control over all territory besides Italy.

With the threat of civil war gone, Rome entered an unprecedented period of expansion and cultural advancement.

• Pax Romana– “Roman Peace”– 27 – c.200 A.D.