Review for transition to Empire

1. From Republic
to Empire
Rome

2. Punic Wars
•264-146 BC (3 wars)
•Rome vs. Carthage (Phoenician City-State that dominated the
Mediterranean by 4th cent. BC)
•Rome Wins All 3 Conflicts
• Empire by definition (dominates Mediterranean)

3. Growing Unrest
• By 146 BC, Rome controls land
around the Mediterranean
• As the Empire Grows:
• Small farmers lost their lands to the
larger wealthier farmers (latifundias)
• The landless Romans migrated to the
cities, creating a large group of poor in
Rome
• Loss of patriotism
• Loving wealth more than honor
• Growth of slave labor
• Free poor can’t get jobs (Rich/Poor gap grows)

4. Tiberius and Gaius
•Two brothers, Tiberius and
Gaius Gracchus, wanted
the council of the Plebs to
pass land-reform bills that
would take back the land
from the wealthy and give
it to the landless Romans
• Reforms failed and both
were assassinated
• Raised issues that led to a
series of civil wars

5. A new Role for the Army
•The new Consul, Marius,
changed the recruiting
process
• Used to recruit small
farmers who were
landholders
• Now recruited rural poor
who owned no property.
They were promised land if
they volunteered
• Men devoted to their own
interests & loyal to their general,
not Rome

6. Marius
•Created a new type of army
that was not under
government control
•Generals were forced to
become involved in politics to
get laws passed that would
provide land for their veterans
•This new system placed great
power in the hands of
individual Generals
• Rival generals fought for power
(civil war)

7. The First Triumvirate
• After 50 years of civil war three men emerged as victors
• Crassus (Spain), Pompey (Syria), and Julius Caesar
(Gaul, modern France). They became the triumvirate.
• Triumvirate- government by three people with equal
power
• After Crassus was killed in battle, the leading senators
voted for Caesar to lay down his command
• They feared Caesar’s popularity and wanted Pompey to rule
alone

8. “Crossing the Rubicon”
•Caesar refused to obey
the Senate
•He illegally entered Italy
through the Rubicon river
•Disobeying the Senate
was very serious
•Caesar marched on Rome
creating a civil war
•Caesar was officially made
Dictator

9. Caesar the Dictator
•Dictatorship was meant to be temporary in
times of emergency
•Caesar realized the need for reforms
• He gave land to the poor, and vastly enlarged the
Senate (filling it with his supporters)
• Granted citizenship to his supporters
• Introduced the solar calendar (the one we use today)
• Had plans for building projects and military
campaigns
•Many senators thought he had plans to
continue as dictator, in 44 B.C. a group of
leading senators assassinated him

10. Second Triumvirate
• A new power struggle
followed the death of
Caesar but three men
joined forces to form the
Second Triumvirate
• Octavian
• Caesar’s heir and
grandnephew
• Antony
• Caesar’s ally and assistant
• Lepidus
• Commander of Caesar’s Calvary
• After a few years only two
of the men divided the
Roman world between
them…Octavian and Antony

11. And then there were two
Antony
• Allied himself with
Cleopatra
• Fought against
Octavian’s army at the
Battle of Actium in
Greece
• Antony and Cleopatra
fled to Egypt
• Committed suicide a
year later
Octavian
•At the age of 32 stood
supreme over the
Roman world
•First Roman Emperor
•The period beginning
in 31 B.C. and lasting
until A.D. 14 came to
be known as the Age
of Augustus

12. Age of Augustus
• In 27 B.C. the Senate awarded
Octavian the title of Augustus
– the revered one
• He became highly popular
• The Senate gave Augustus the
title imperator, or commander
in chief (Emperor comes from
this word)
• New coins, restored or built
many temples/theaters
(transferred city from brick-
>marble)
• Postal service, Census,
Aqueduct sys. extended
• Water-proof concrete (c. 300
B.C.)created (piers, bridges,
aqueducts)
• Expanded road system
throughout empire
• Began Pax Romana

13. Augustus’ Military
• Maintained a standing army of
28 legions, or about 151,000
men
• A legion was a military unit of
about 5,000 troops (only
roman citizens could be
members of the legion)
• Subject people could serve as
auxiliary forces, which
numbered around 130,000
• Augustus also instituted a
praetorian guard of roughly
9,000 men who were
responsible for guarding the
emperor

14. Conquests
• Augustus conquered many new
lands
• He attempted to Conquer
Germany but he failed, when
three Roman legions led by the
Roman general Varus were
massacred by German Warriors
• This defeat taught Augustus that
Rome’s power was not unlimited,
which devastated him
• For months he would beat his
head on a door shouting, “Varus,
give me back my legions!”
• He died a few years later

15. When he became Rome’s first emperor, Augustus took on many of the
powers that had once been held by other officials in the past.
Amongst the most important of these powers were:
DECLARING WAR & LEADING THE ARMY
It was important for Emperors to both protect the Empire from outside
attack and to expand it if they could. Gaining new lands was a good
way for emperors to gain popularity. An emperor who lost land ran
the risk of assassination.
PUNISHING LAWBREAKERS
Punishments in ancient Rome were often very harsh. It was common
for criminals to be executed in public, sometimes during gladiatorial
games as entertainment for the crowd between fights. At other times
they could be thrown off high cliff tops.
NOMINATING PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Emperors needed thousands of people to help
them run the huge Roman empire successfully,
everyone from governors of the provinces to
tax collectors and record keepers. Some of
these positions paid very well and were a good
way to reward supporters or family members
to ensure their loyalty.
LEADING RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
The Romans had hundreds of religious festivals to celebrate their gods
as well as important events. Emperors were expected to lead the
most important of these festivals. Emperors themselves were often
worshiped as gods.
RAISING TAXES
Emperors needed to raise money to pay for the defense of the empire
as well as public building projects. Common items taxed included
land, food, wine, and the sale of slaves.
INFLUENCING THE SENATE
Having the approval of the senate was still important for many
emperors. However they often used threats or bribery to get senators
to do what they wanted.