From Republic to Empire

From Republic to Empire Rome began to build their empire around the Mediterranean Sea While doing this, Rome ran into conflict with Carthage Carthage is located in North Africa

Punic Wars 264 BC – 146 BC Carthage and Rome’s battles were known as the Punic Wars First battle was won by the Romans Second battle was won by the Carthaginians in the beginning Carthage led by the great General Hannibal However, the Romans fought off Hannibal and defended their homeland by attacking

Map of the Region

Punic Wars The third Punic War completely destroyed the city of Carthage Romans poured salt over the all of Carthage Survivors were killed or sold into slavery

Imperialism After the Punic Wars, Rome began aggressive imperialism. They expanded into the eastern Mediterranean, taking over all of Alexander the Great’s land. One by one city-states became provinces of Rome. Greece, Egypt, Macedonia, and parts of Asia Minor all surrendered to Rome They eventually called the Mediterranean: Mare Nostrum, which means “our sea” in Latin.

Roman Empire Trade grew more important with the wealthy important products from the East Slave labor grew as well; mostly the conquered became slaves

Roman Empire The rich got richer and poor got poorer - big gap between the two; created mobs Reformers sought to help the mobs - got themselves killed for trying to help Unable to resolve its problems, Rome plunged into a series of Civil Wars

The Roman Empire now stretched from Spain to Egypt. After imperialism began, policies on how to run the empire caused civil wars throughout the land. Social unrest between farmers and estate owners started. New and fast wealth had led to corruption. The Senate saw only one way to solve the problem – put in place a dictator. This dictator was Julius Caesar.

Caesar’s Rise After a failed attempt of reform by 2 brothers within the Senate, Rome denied its republic and relied on a general they believed in. Caesar quickly made reforms and quelled the civil wars. He created a calendar based on Egyptian knowledge and reorganized the government. He granted citizenship to more people and set up public works programs.

Caesar’s Fall Caesar was in fact the absolute ruler of Rome-out of fear that a monarchy would be set up the senate acted. In hopes to “save the republic” Caesar’s enemies plotted to stab him to death upon arriving to Senate. He was assassinated in 44 B.C., which caused another round of civil wars.

Et tu, Brute? From the Shakespeare play- Julius Caesar Perhaps the most famous three words uttered in literature, "Et tu, Brute?" (Even you, Brutus?) this expression has come down in history to mean the ultimate betrayal by one's closest friend. This scene, in which the conspirators in the Senate assassinate Caesar, is one of the most dramatic moments on the Shakespearean stage. The audience has just witnessed the arrogance of a ruler who has sought, within a republic, to become a monarch, comparing himself to the gods. Brutus, a friend of Caesar and yet a man who loves Rome (and freedom) more, has joined the conspirators in the assassination, a betrayal which is captured by the three words above in this famous Shakespeare quote. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPwlVkNvL7g&index=5&list=PLkuHf6styxtHDUoOwdKTUk7xO3SrRXouk

Impact of Caesar’s Death Even though the great Roman leader had died, he still had a lasting effect on Rome. His death led to the formation of the Roman Empire, lead by the emperor Octavius, later called Augustus, meaning “exalted one”.