The Fall of the Republic

Get Ready To Read… By the end of the Third Punic War, Rome ruled the Mediterranean world. All was not well, however. Closer to home, the republic faced increasing dangers the would soon lead to its end.

Vocabulary Latifundia – Large farming estates Triumvirate – a political alliance of three people

Trouble

Rich vs Poor The patricians ruled Rome and had large farms, ran the Senate, and held the most powerful jobs Moreover, the wealthy land owners created latifundia - large farming estates The enslaved people tended the farms Roman farmers were not paid for their crops Farmers fought in wars; farms went to waste

Overcrowding Farmers who could not pay their taxes, sold their farms These farmers headed to the cities looking for work Enslaved people had most of the jobs (cheap labor) People became very angry with no work, home, or food Blamed the politicians for their woes

Bread and Circuses To avoid riots, Roman politicians created entertainment to win over the poor Cheap food and entertainment Many dishonest rulers came to power and stayed…why?

Not all patricians agreed with the wealthy having everything Tiberius and Gaius (two brothers) felt the Senate should take the farmed land from the wealthy and give it back to the poor Both brothers were killed Several Senators owned the taken farm land and did not want to lose what was gained recruited/changed the army The army went from volunteers to being a paid profession (promised land in exchange for service)

Julius Caesar

Over time, Roman leaders battled for power. Three leaders formed a triumvirate (alliance of three people) Pompey Caesar Crassus

Power Thanks to his military experience, Caesar was able to guide his loyal soldiers and took over Rome He defeated Pompey’s army while Crassus was killed in a foreign land Julius Caesar declared himself dictator for life in 44BC

Accomplishments Caesar knew reforms were needed which made him a favorite of the poor:

Ides of March March 15th: A warning given by an Oracle to Caesar Brutus (friend of Caesar) feared Julius wanted to be king – along with other enemies of Caesar, they stabbed Caesar and killed him Et tu Brute? And you Brutus?

Empire

After Caesar’s death, Rome was in a civil war Caesar’s grandnephew, Octavian, created a second Triumvirate along with two generals: Anthony and Lepidus *Anthony fell in love with Cleopatra (Egyptian Queen) and this alarmed Octavian - Octavian convinced the Roman army to declare war on Anthony - In 31 BC, Octavian won

Augustus Octavian knew people favored a republic as opposed to dictatorship Cicero – a political writer and speaker – convinced many people dictatorship was wrong His ideas influenced the writers of the US Constitution Octavian changed his name to Augustus and called himself, “Imperator” = Emperor = Commander in Chief