1. The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic

3. What was Rome? 1. Republic 2. Empire Caesar Empire Republic
Assassinated
44 B.C.
Republic
Empire
Barbaric invasions
Fall of Roman
Empire
450 A.D.
Beginnings
of Republic
750 B.C.

4. How did the Romans build a republic?
Republic form of government
Citizens vote to elect representatives
Only welathy people could vote (patricians)
Plebians: laborers, most Romans, citizen soldiers
Plebians out numbered patricians

5. Law of the 12 Tables Plebeians demanded that laws be written down
Senate wrote their laws on 12 bronze tablets
Put in the marketplace, all school children had to learn the laws

6. Punic Wars Conflict with Carthage Series of 3 wars
Outcome: Romans burn Carthage to the ground, sell citizens into slavery

7. Why did the republic fall?
Economic Issues 1.Wars destroyed countryside & forced men away from farms 2. Large land-owners dominated 3.Slave labor undercut prices

8. Why did the Republic fall?
Military issues 1.Paradox of Generals 2. Shift in soldier loyalty from republic to generals Result: Julius Caesar

9. Julius Caesar Takes Control
The Triumvirate
Military leader Julius Caesar elected consul in 59 B.C.
Caesar, Crassus (wealthy), Pompey (general) form a triumvirate—a group of three rulers

10. Caesar Becomes Dictator
46 B.C. the Senate appoints Caesar dictator
Governed as an absolute ruler
Instituted Reforms
granted Roman citizenship to many people in provinces
Expanded the senate
created jobs through construction of new public buildings
started colonies where people without land could own property
increased pay for soldiers

11. Was Caesar too powerful?
nobles and senators were nervous about Caesar’s growing power
Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius led important senators in plotting Caesar’s assassination
March 14, 44 B.C., Caesar is stabbed to death in the senate chamber

12. Setting the stage for building an empire….
Civil war broke out again and destroyed what was left of the Roman Republic
Three of Caesar’s supporters joined together
Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus
43 B.C. they take control of Rome and ruled for 10 years
AKA: Second Triumvirate
Alliance ends in jealousy and violence

13. Octavian becomes ruler
Octavian forces Lepidus to retire
Mark Antony falls in love with Cleopatra in Egypt
Octavian accuses Antony of trying to rule Rome from Egypt, a civil war erupts
Octavian defeats Mark Antony & Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide
Octavian becomes the unchallenged ruler of Rome
Accepts the title of Augustus, “exalted one”
Rome became an empire ruled by one man

14. Characteristics (Recipe) for an empire...
Land
Money
Power
Achievements
Infrastructure
Military

15. Pax Romana, “Roman Peace”
Rome reaches peak starting with Augustus’ rule in 27 B.C. to A.D. 180
Peace reigned
Held 3 million square mile empire through efficient government and stable rulers
Splendid public buildings
Set up Civil Service

16. The Roman World Society and Culture rich live well
most people are poor
- receive grain from government
150 holidays and Colosseum events created to distract the masses

17. Cnip Map from Book

18. Agriculture and Trade Trade most important industry
90 % of the people engaged in farming
Common coinage made trade much easier
Vast trading network
Complex network of roads linked empire to Persia and southern Russia

19. The Pax Romana Ends Inflation, trade disrupted by tribes
Empire is very large
Military in disarray

20. The Empire Falls
A.D. 284 Emperor Diocletian restores order, divides empire in two
Two emperors in Greek-speaking East, Latin-speaking West
In A.D. 305 Diocletian retires, rivals compete for power

21. The Empire Falls…
Constantine becomes emperor of Western Empire in A.D. 312
Seizes Eastern Empire in A.D. 324; moves Roman capital to Byzantium
Byzantium eventually renamed Constantinople—city of Constantine

22. Political Issues political office more trouble than it’s worth
military interference in politics
civil war and unrest
division of an empire
moving of capital to Byzantium

23. Social Issues declining interest in public affairs
low confidence in empire
disloyalty, lack of patriotism, corruption
differences between rich and poor
declining population (disease and food shortage)

24. Economic Issues poor harvests disruption of trade no more war treasure
gold and silver drain
inflation
huge tax burden
widening gap between rich and poor
poverty in Western Empire

25. Military Issues threat from northern European tribes
low funds for defense
problems recruiting Roman citizens
mercenaries fight for $ only
decline of patriotism and loyalty among soldiers

26. The Empire Ends German forces kicked out the last Roman emperor in 476
Roman power in the western part of the empire has disappeared
Eastern half of the empire became known as the Byzantine Empire
Survived and flourished
Emperors ruled from Constantinople
Even though the Roman empire fell, its cultural influence did not!

27. Free Write
Which factors contributed most to the “Fall of Rome?” (consider politics, economics, social, and military— 3minutes)
Consider past units of study and our study of current events this year to identify trends that have negatively affected societies. (3 minutes)