The Spread of the Roman Republic

The Spread of Roman Power• Roman legions fight to expand the empire

– Controlled central Italy by 390 BC• Were defeated an had Rome destroyed by the Gauls

– They rebuilt and later controlled all of Italy by 265 BC• Rome keeps control with deals to people

– Areas close to Rome allowed to…• Became full citizens of Rome• Have the same rights and could vote

– Further areas given rights, couldn’t vote– Also couldn’t make treaties w/ others

Trade Leads to War

• Rome had great access to trade routes– Made merchants rich by selling products

• Other cities were interfering with the money Rome could be making– Carthage- trade city of the Phoeicians

• Both cities fought for control of the Mediterranean Sea– With it came incredible riches– Control meant all trade thru their city

The Punic Wars 264-146 BC

• Carthage and Rome fight for Mediterranean– Total of 3 wars fought

• 1st Punic War- won by Rome – they take Sicily• 2nd Punic War- Hannibal destroys most of Rome• 3rd Punic War- Carthage is completely destroyed

• Rome wins due to better army & mistakes• Effects of the war on both groups…

– Rome wins, controls trade, wealth grows– Carthage no longer a major city

Hannibal vs. Scipio

• Hannibal- Carthaginian military leader– Brilliant military strategist, used elephants as weapons– Planned a surprise attack on Rome, to avenge a loss

• Trip took them thru Spain and France to get to Italy– Greatest victory came at Cannae in 216 BC

• Scipio- Roman military leader– Saves Rome by attacking Carthage– Forces Hannibal to return to defend– Romans defeat Hannibal at Zama (202 BC)

Expansion After the Punic Wars

• Rome expanded east after the Punic Wars– Took Macedonia, Greece and Anatolia

• Also controlled Spain, parts of France– Empire now stretched from Spain to Asia

• Benefits of Expansion– New citizens (partial and full)– More tax revenue and people for army

• Also created many problems in Rome– Problems lead to the end of the republic

Expansion Creates Major Issues• Growing empire led to the following problems

– Increasing gap between rich and poor• Rich gained more land from war, poor did not• Rich also gained slaves- conquered people from war

– Poor farmers could not compete against slave labor

– Soldiers and small farmers lose their jobs• Came home to no job, or couldn’t compete• Moved to the cities to look for work• Many were homeless and hated the rich

– Inflation hits- devaluation of money• Money will not buy what it used to

with the increased wealth, prices go up

The Republic Collapses• The republic slowly began to fall apart

– Tiberius and Gaius try to save the republic• Tried to reform the land issues to fix problem• Both were killed for their ideas against the rich

– Civil war breaks out b/w rich and poor• Political leaders build armies to gain power

– Hired jobless soldiers to fight for them• Soldiers no longer fight for Rome

• Rivalries b/w generals led to many battles for control of Rome

The First Triumvirate• Triumvirate- group of three leaders• 3 Leaders come to power together

– Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar• Caesar gained power by taking Gaul (France)

– Caesar told to disband army by senators• He refuses adding another problem to republic• Civil war begins again over right v. wrong

• Caesar then turned his armies on Rome– Attacks Pompey’s armies, defeats them– Pompey flees Rome, Caesar becomes ruler

• Named dictator for life by Senate- an absolute ruler • Gets new title in 44 BC

Julius Caesar’s Rule of Rome• Makes many changes to Rome

– Granted Roman citizenship to people of conquered areas– Expanding the Senate

• Added his friends and other supporters– Created jobs for the poor

• Built new buildings in Rome• Started communities were people with no

land could own land • Increased pay for soldiers on the Army

• Senators did not like his popularity– Felt they would lose their influence w/ people– Assassinated J. Caesar on March 15, 44 BC

• The “Ides of March”- prophecy of his death

Ancient Rome After Caesar

Life After Julius Caesar

• Rome falls into civil war again

• A new triumvirate comes to power– Octavian, Marc Antony and Lepidus

• Three don’t share power long, Lepidus is forced to retire

• Marc Antony falls in love with Cleopatra

Octavian Takes Control

• Octavian accuses Marc Antony of trying to rule Rome from Egypt– Rome breaks out in civil war again

• Octavian defeats Antony at Battle of Actium– Marc Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide

• Octavian takes full power- becomes Augustus– Takes the name Augutus- means “exalted one”– Also took name imperator- means “emperor”

The Pax Romana

• Pax Romana- time of peace in Rome – Starts about the time of Augustus’

reign (27BC)– Lasts for over 200 years

• Population between this time is 60-80 mil.

• Empire covers most of Europe and Africa

Economy of the Pax Romana

• Economy was based on Agriculture– Many people farmed – Traded at sea, used Roman navy for protection– Traded along roads connected to the Silk Roads

• Created a coin monetary system– Made of silver- called a denarius– Made trade easier because there was a common

way to trade all over the empire

Government and Emperors• Army had to protect all the lands

– Allowed people to join; gave citizenship to them• Augustus set up a civil service

– Paid people to run the government, like today• Augustus dies, son Tiberius takes over 14AD• Good Emperors of Pax Romana (96-180AD)

– Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, Aurelius• Bad Emperors of Pax Romana (37-96AD)

– Caligula, Nero, Domitian- 2 thought to be crazy

Trajan

Life in Imperial Rome

• People did not live in the cities; lived in the countrysides- did business in cities

• Society based around the family• Women close to equals to men; no voting• Boys favored over girls, girls don’t get names• Women married between 12-15• Slaves played a major role in Roman society

– Made about 1/3 of population