6th Grade UBD - Unit 6 - From Republic to Empire

 How did Rome's transition from Republic to Empire impact its citizens?

 Rome Becomes an Empire- Julius Caesar’s defeat of Pompey led to the end of the Roman Republic and the founding of the Roman Empire.  The Growth of the Empire- The Roman Empire grew quickly in its first 100 years. At last, it grew too large to be governed easily.

 Caesar was originally Pompey’s ally in the First Triumvirate.  Caesar’s victory in Gaul gave him the political strength to defeat Pompey.  Some members of the Roman Senate were worried about Caesar’s growing power. As a result, they assassinated him.  Octavian, Caesar’s nephew, won the civil war that followed Caesar’s death. He became Augustus, the emperor.

 Rome’s transition from republic to empire had a great impact on its citizens.  Under the republic, the Roman people had the ability to choose their own leaders and representatives.

Video- Caesars Path to Power

Key Term Julius Caesar- A Roman general and statesman. He was also a prolific writer. He laid the groundwork for the transformation of Rome from a republic to an empire.

 With the rise of Julius Caesar and the creation of the Roman Empire, people lost their right to choose their leaders.  The government was led by emperors whose power to rule was passed on through their family lines.

 The creation of the empire greatly limited citizens’ political rights, and this political system was marked by violence and disorder.  However, it also led to many benefits, including expansion, wealth, and diversity.

 Caesar was very ambitious. He served in the Roman military and was a skillful soldier.  He also was a clever politician and a skilled writer and speaker.

 In its early years, Rome was a republic guided by democratic political beliefs.  After a series of successes in the Punic Wars, Rome grew larger and stronger. At that time it was ruled by a triumvirate, a group of three leaders.

Key Term Triumvirate- In ancient Rome a triumvirate was a ruling commission of three officials.

 One of these leaders, Julius Caesar, used military successes to increase his power.  He then defeated his main rival in the triumvirate, Pompey, and declared himself the sole ruler of Rome.

 After Julius Caesar declared himself the sole ruler of Rome the government began the process by which it ceased to be a republic and became an empire.

 Caesar’s rise ushered in a time of great expansion and success as well as great turmoil.  Roman territory began to grow tremendously, and many of Rome’s common people loved their new leader.

 However, a group of senators, fearing Caesar’s unrestrained power, assassinated him.  This act led to a lengthy and bloody civil war in Rome.

Key Term Ides of March- A day on the Roman calendar that corresponds to March 15 th. It has became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Key Term Assassinate- To murder (an important person) in a surprise attack for political or religious reasons.

Video- The Murder of Caesar

 After Caesar’s death, Rome broke out into a civil war.  The civil war in Rome, finally ended with the ascension of Octavian as the emperor Augustus.

Video- The First Emperor

 Although the Roman Empire flourished for many years, its political situation remained one of instability and violence.

 Rome’s place on the Mediterranean Sea and its warm climate made it easy to grow food.  Conquered nations were absorbed into the Roman Empire. Cities were built to look like Rome, and the Roman culture was passed on to the new citizens.  The empire was run in an orderly fashion. However, the transfer of the role of emperor involved many cruel acts.

Key Term Pax Romana- Latin for “Roman Peace.”

 The Pax Romana brought an end to the inside fighting that had existed in Rome since the time of Caesar.  During this period, Rome’s growth brought great riches and new ways of doing things to the empire and its people.

Video- Roman Buildings

 There was a strong sense of similarity among Roman cities.  They all were designed and built to look like one another.  All Roman cities had a theater and temples set aside for different gods.

 They also had aqueducts to carry water through the city, and they all had public bathhouses.  Buildings in even the most distant provinces were designed the same as those in Rome.

Key Term Aqueduct- An artificial waterway designed to carry water from one place to another. The word comes from the Latin aqua, meaning “water.”

 Many people were happy to become a part of Rome.  The Romans brought many advantages, including better architecture, education, and health.

 A common language, calendar, religion, and form of money helped tie the Roman Empire together.

 Citizens anywhere in the Roman Empire also were treated the same way. They spoke Latin and used the same form of money.  They also used the same calendar. It was called the Julian calendar. It was named after Julius Caesar, its creator.  These details meant that all cities and all people in the empire were connected. This was even true of cities that Rome conquered and added to its growing empire.