Rome Unit Section 3 - The Roman Empire The Gracchus Brothers Two brothers attempt reforms to help the poor and landless but are killed by the senate and their supporters From this point on violence became a primary tool of Roman politics, replacing respect for the law

Marius Revolutionized the Roman Army by: Signing up any citizen, rich or poor Soldiers served not only for pay but also for loot & riches When they were discharged, soldiers expected land as a reward * As other generals followed these practices, armies became loyal to their leaders instead of the Roman Government

The First Triumvirate (Rule of Three) *Rome transitions from a republican form of government to an empire ruled by an emperor with the creation of… The First Triumvirate (Rule of Three) ~ Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey initially attempt to run the government together Crassus Caesar Pompey

~ To win a loyal army Caesar fights for 10 years in Gaul(today’s France) ~ Meanwhile, Crassus dies in battle and Pompey gains control in Rome ~ Pompey orders Caesar to return to Rome from Gaul (today’s France) without his army in 52 B.C.

~ Caesar Crosses the Rubicon, a river between Gaul & Rome, and decides to march on Rome with his legions, making a bid for power *To this day the phrase “Crossing the Rubicon” means making an irreversible decision…

~ Pompey flees Rome, but Caesar chases him and defeats Pompey’s army in Greece & chases Pompey to Egypt where he finds the Egyptians have killed him ~ Caesar then places Cleopatra, a daughter of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, on the throne of Egypt

~ Caesar’s reforms include: ~ Caesar returns to Rome in 46 B.C. and is declared “dictator for life” by the Senate ~ Caesar’s reforms include: ~ citizenship to more people from the provinces ~ land to retired veterans ~ grain to the poor ~ an improved calendar, which is used in Europe until 1582 A.D.

The Ides of March 44 B.C. ~ Some 60 senators, opposed to his power, stab Caesar on the steps of the senate “Et tu Brute”?

The Second Triumvirate ~ Caesar’s supporters oust & punish conspirators and gain control of the government ~ Octavian – Caesar’s great nephew/adopted son & heir ~ Marc Antony – general loyal to Caesar ~ *And Marcus Lepidus – another general (who will get pushed aside…)

~ At first Octavian rules west and Antony rules east ~ Becomes civil war between Octavian and the alliance of Antony & Cleopatra

~ Deciding battle is fought at Actium off the coast of Greece in 31 B.C. with Octavian’s navy winning

~ Antony and Cleopatra are believed to have committed suicide

~ Octavian eventually given title “Augustus” or “revered one” by the Senate in 27 B.C. ~ *Octavian (or Augustus) is considered the first true emperor of Rome

~ Under Augustus, Rome’s territory extends from Spain in the West to Syria in the East and from the Sahara in the South to the Rhine and Danube rivers in the North

The Julian Emperors (all related to Julius Caesar) Caligula A.D. 37-41 ~ Brutal, cruel, and ultimately insane, he once names his horse to the government position of consul ~ “Let them hate me so long as they fear me” ~ Eventually assassinated by his own Imperial guard

Claudius A.D. 41-54 ~ Wise ruler, Rome conquers much of Britain during his rule ~ *Assassinated by his 2nd wife (who was also his niece) to make way for her son, Nero

Nero A.D. 54-68 ~ Cruel leader who persecutes Christians following A.D. 64 fire that sweeps Rome (that many suggest he ordered be started) ~ Commits suicide to avoid being assassinated

The Good Emperors Trajan A.D. 98-117 From A.D.96 – A.D.181 five strong and capable emperors rule Trajan A.D. 98-117 ~ Spanish born, the empire is at its largest size during his reign ~ “Felicior Augusto, melior Traino” (may he be luckier than Augustus and better than Trajan)

Hadrian A.D. 117-138 ~ Stops expansion & establishes permanent borders Exs. Hadrians’s Wall in Britain, forts along the Rhine & Danube Rivers

~Also builds the Pantheon building in Rome

Marcus Aurelius A.D. 161-181 ~ A Stoic scholar, he’s forced to spend his reign fighting invaders ~ *Last of the Good Emperors. Rome will begin to decline after his reign (though they don’t know it at the time…)