The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic

What was Rome? 1. Republic 2. Empire Caesar Empire Republic Assassinated 44 B.C. Republic Empire Barbaric invasions Fall of Roman Empire 450 A.D. Beginnings of Republic 750 B.C.

How did the Romans build a republic? Republic form of government Citizens vote to elect representatives Only welathy people could vote (patricians) Plebians: laborers, most Romans, citizen soldiers Plebians out numbered patricians

Law of the 12 Tables Plebeians demanded that laws be written down Senate wrote their laws on 12 bronze tablets Put in the marketplace, all school children had to learn the laws

Punic Wars Conflict with Carthage Series of 3 wars http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/punic-wars Outcome: Romans burn Carthage to the ground, sell citizens into slavery

Why did the republic fall? Economic Issues 1.Wars destroyed countryside & forced men away from farms 2. Large land-owners dominated 3.Slave labor undercut prices

Why did the Republic fall? Military issues 1.Paradox of Generals 2. Shift in soldier loyalty from republic to generals Result: Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar Takes Control The Triumvirate Military leader Julius Caesar elected consul in 59 B.C. Caesar, Crassus (wealthy), Pompey (general) form a triumvirate—a group of three rulers

Caesar Becomes Dictator 46 B.C. the Senate appoints Caesar dictator Governed as an absolute ruler Instituted Reforms granted Roman citizenship to many people in provinces Expanded the senate created jobs through construction of new public buildings started colonies where people without land could own property increased pay for soldiers

Was Caesar too powerful? nobles and senators were nervous about Caesar’s growing power Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius led important senators in plotting Caesar’s assassination March 14, 44 B.C., Caesar is stabbed to death in the senate chamber

Setting the stage for building an empire…. Civil war broke out again and destroyed what was left of the Roman Republic Three of Caesar’s supporters joined together Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus 43 B.C. they take control of Rome and ruled for 10 years AKA: Second Triumvirate Alliance ends in jealousy and violence

Octavian becomes ruler Octavian forces Lepidus to retire Mark Antony falls in love with Cleopatra in Egypt Octavian accuses Antony of trying to rule Rome from Egypt, a civil war erupts Octavian defeats Mark Antony & Cleopatra Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide Octavian becomes the unchallenged ruler of Rome Accepts the title of Augustus, “exalted one” Rome became an empire ruled by one man

Characteristics (Recipe) for an empire... Land Money Power Achievements Infrastructure Military

Pax Romana, “Roman Peace” Rome reaches peak starting with Augustus’ rule in 27 B.C. to A.D. 180 Peace reigned Held 3 million square mile empire through efficient government and stable rulers Splendid public buildings Set up Civil Service

The Roman World Society and Culture rich live well most people are poor - receive grain from government 150 holidays and Colosseum events created to distract the masses

Cnip Map from Book

Agriculture and Trade Trade most important industry 90 % of the people engaged in farming Common coinage made trade much easier Vast trading network Complex network of roads linked empire to Persia and southern Russia

The Pax Romana Ends Inflation, trade disrupted by tribes Empire is very large Military in disarray

The Empire Falls A.D. 284 Emperor Diocletian restores order, divides empire in two Two emperors in Greek-speaking East, Latin-speaking West In A.D. 305 Diocletian retires, rivals compete for power

The Empire Falls… Constantine becomes emperor of Western Empire in A.D. 312 Seizes Eastern Empire in A.D. 324; moves Roman capital to Byzantium Byzantium eventually renamed Constantinople—city of Constantine

Political Issues political office more trouble than it’s worth military interference in politics civil war and unrest division of an empire moving of capital to Byzantium

Social Issues declining interest in public affairs low confidence in empire disloyalty, lack of patriotism, corruption differences between rich and poor declining population (disease and food shortage)

Economic Issues poor harvests disruption of trade no more war treasure gold and silver drain inflation huge tax burden widening gap between rich and poor poverty in Western Empire

Military Issues threat from northern European tribes low funds for defense problems recruiting Roman citizens mercenaries fight for $ only decline of patriotism and loyalty among soldiers

The Empire Ends German forces kicked out the last Roman emperor in 476 Roman power in the western part of the empire has disappeared Eastern half of the empire became known as the Byzantine Empire Survived and flourished Emperors ruled from Constantinople Even though the Roman empire fell, its cultural influence did not!

Free Write Which factors contributed most to the “Fall of Rome?” (consider politics, economics, social, and military— 3minutes) Consider past units of study and our study of current events this year to identify trends that have negatively affected societies. (3 minutes)