Punic Wars and Rome’s increasing wealth and expansion brought problems to Rome **Especially the large gap between the Rich and the Poor

Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus fight to reform Rome and redistribute land to the poor. Murdered in 133/121 BC

Generals of the legions start paying poor farmers to fight for them Generals of the legions start paying poor farmers to fight for them. (offer them land in return) This creates allegiances to the General, not to Rome

88-82 BC: Civil War between 2 generals, Marius and Sulla for power of the Republic Sulla wins. Becomes dictator.

60BC First Triumvirate Julius Caesar- Pompey – military hero Crassus – richest man in Rome (a gov’t by 3 people with equal power)

Crassus killed in battle 53 BC Civil War breaks out between Caesar and Pompey. Caesar marches to Rome, becomes popular on the way and this “fame” scared Pompey and he fled. Caesar Pompey

Julius Caesar named himself dictator for Life. Gave land to poor, and increased size of the senate to 900, weakening its members Accused of being a tyrant and murdered in 44BC

Second Triumvirate Octavian – JC’s nephew Mark Antony – J.C.’s assistant Lepidus – commander of J.C.’s cavalry

Civil War between Octavian and Antony (with help of Cleopatra and the Egyptians) Octavian wins.

Octavian becomes the first Roman imperator, receives the name Augustus “the revered one”