The Fall of the republic Chapter 8, Section 3 Pg. 277-283

Trouble in the Republic Problem building homes Dishonest officials stole money Gap between the rich and the poor Farmers faced ruin Cities became overcrowded an dagerous

Rich VS Poor Many Romans were farmers of small plots of land. In the 100s B.C. the began to sink in to debt. Why?? Many were fighting in Rome’s war and could not tend to their land Others had suffered damage to their farm during Hannibal’s invasion of Italy Most of all small farmers could not compete with wealthy Romans buying land to create latifundia

Latifundia Is a large farming estate There was a new source of labor used to farm the land. Prisoners brought to Italy during the wars. This forced small farms out of business

Moving to the City They famers moved to the city but had trouble finding jobs due to the slaves working for free. If they were lucky to get hirer they worked for low wages. This created a widespread anger among the Romans Roman politicians began to worry and turned the situation to their advantage by winning the votes of the poor. They provided cheep food and entertainment called “bread and circuses”

Why did reform Fail? Brothers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus believed many of Rome’s problems came from the loss of small farms. They asked the Senate to give back the public land and divided it among the Romans The Senates however were investors of the public land and did not was to loss their wealth The senators killed Tiberius in 133 B.C. and 12 years later killed Gaius

The Army Enters Politics A military leader named Marius changed the way of the military. Because soldiers were small farm owners these men were beginning to drifting way. Marius began to recruit soldiers from the poor and in return afford them wages and promised land. Soldiers began to be motivated by materials then by a sense of duty.

New Military System Soldiers began to become loyal to generals not the Roman Republic This lead to military becoming involved in politics to get laws passed to provided promise land to the soldiers However this new system lead to power struggles. Marius was faced with a rival from a general within his army Sulla

Sulla Sulla drove his enemies out of Rome in 82 B.C. and made himself dictator. Over the next three years he changed the government. Weakened the Council of the Plebs and strengthened the Senate After he stepped down Rom plunged in to an ear of civil wars for the next 50 years.

Stop and Think What Changes did Marius make to the Roman Army??

Stop and Think What Changes did Marius make to the Roman Army?? Marius changed Rome’s army from citizen volunteer to paid professional. They were loyal to their generals, not to the republic.

Julius Caesar After Sulla left office Roman leaders battled for power In 60 B.C. three men were at the top: Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar Crassus was one of the richest men in Rome Pompey and Caesar were not as rich but successful military men These three formed the First Triumvirate to rule Rome A political alliance of three people

First Triumvirate The three men had a military command in remote area of the republic Pompey was in Spain Crassus in Syria Caesar in Gaul (Today’s France)

Caesar’s Military Campaign Caesar became a hero to Rome’s lower class. Senator and others feared he would become to popular and seize power like Sulla Crassus was killed in batter in 53 B.C. In 49 B.C. Senate decided Pompey should return to rule Rome. Orders were given to Caesar to give up his army and come home. He had a decision to make come home and risk being killed by his rivals or stay with his army and risk a civil war….

Caesar’s Dicision Caesar decided to stay loyal to his 5,000 soldiers. Caesar and his army marched into Italy by crossing the Rubicon, a small river at the southern boundary. Pompey tried to stop Caesar; however, he drove Pompey’s forces from Italy and then destroyed his army in Greece is 48 B.C.

Caesar’s Rise to Power 44 B.C. Caesar declared himself dictator of Rome for life. To strengthen his hold of power he filled the Senate with new members who were loyal to him He created a new calendar with 12 months, 365 days, and a leap year. This was called the Julian calendar and was used throughout Europe until A.D. 1582

Becoming Popular with the Poor Caesar was aware that Rome needed Reform He granted citizenship to people living in Rome’s territories outside the Italian peninsula Started new colonies to provided land for the landless and work for the jobless He ordered landowners using slave labor to hire more free workers

Caesar’s Enemies Many believed Caesar was a strong leader and brought peace and order to Rome. Others feared he would want to become King Of these enemies were Brutus and Cassius who plotted to kill him On March 15 44 B.C. Caesar was stabbed to death by his enemies at the Senate building.

Rome Becoming an Empire After Caesar’s Death Rome dove into another Civil War On side was lead by the men who had killed Caesar The other side was Caesar’s grandnephew Octavian Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus created the Second Triumvirate in 43 B.C.

The Second Triumvirate These three men began fighting at once Octavian soon forced Lepidus to retire from politics Octavian took the West and Antony took the East Antony fell in love with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra Vii and formed and alliance Octavian told the Romans that this alliance was to make Antony sole ruler of the republic This lead to the Romans and Octavian to declare war on Antony

Battle of Actium This battle took place in 31 B.C. off the west coast of Greece. Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra’s army and navy The couple fled to Egypt a year later killing themselves before Octavian reached them. This made Octavian at the age of 32 at the top of the Roman world. The civil wars and republic was over and Octavian set a new system of government call the Roman Empire

Octavian’s Rule Octavian chose not to make himself dictator for life as his great uncle had. He know the people favored a republican form of government Cicero a political leader, writer, and rome’s greatest public speaker encouraged this decision Octavian gave some power to the Senate and the rest of the power to himself. His title became imperator meaning commander in chief later to be called emperor. He then changed his name to Augustus

Stop and Think Who was the First Triumvirate?? Who was the Second Triumvirate??

Stop and Think Who was the First Triumvirate?? Crassus, Pompey, Julius Caesar Who was the Second Triumvirate?? Octavian, Antony, Lepidus