1. Republic to Empire

2. Decline of the Empire Senate becomes real governing body of Rome
Members chosen mostly from wealthy landowners (served for life)
Took control of foreign/domestic policy and financial affairs
Small farmers begin losing their land to wealthy land owners
Many small landless farmers begin moving to city of Rome creating large class of “landless poor”
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus -> “cause of Rome’s problems was the decline of the small farmer”
Asked gov’t to take back land from wealthy and distribute it poor
Affected group of Senators kill them as a result of anger

3. New Role for Rome’s Army
Rome had been recruiting army from male landholders of small farms
General Marius begins new role for army
Begin to recruit volunteers from “propertyless” urban and rural poor
Causes oath of loyalty to general not to the state (promise of land)
General Sulla next to take advantage of power
Given command for war in Asia Minor by the Senate
Council of plebs tried to transfer command to Marius = Civil War
Sulla wins and restores all power back to the Senate and eliminated power of popular assemblies

4. C’Ya Republic, What’s Up Empire
Roman not characterized by 2 features:
Competition for power
Civil war caused by these conflicts
3 individuals begin competing for all power: Crassus (richest man in Rome), Pompey (military hero), and Julius Caesar (military hero)
Join together to create the First Triumvirate (equal power)

5. First Triumvirate
Position of power allowed them dominate political/military scene
Pompey receives command in Spain, Crassus command in Syria, Caesar command in Gaul (France)
Crassus killed in battle
Leaders begin to fear Caesar’s success, name Pompey sole ruler
Caesar crosses Rubicon River illegally into Italy
Defeated Pompey in Civil War and gained sole power
Caesar officially made himself dictator for life
Gave land to the poor and increased the Senate to 900 members who supported Caesar (limited power of Senate)
Granted citizenship to people in provinces that helped him
Reformed Roman calendar to 365 days (Egyptian)
Caesar assassinated by numerous senators led by Marcus Brutus (Ides of March)

6. The Second Triumvirate
After Caesar’s death, 3 new men created the Second Triumvirate
Octavian (Caesar’s heir and grandnephew), Antony (Caesar’s ally and assistant), and Lepidus (commander of Caesar’s calvary)
Eventually power landed in the hands of 2 -> Octavian took the Western part, Antony the East
Roman Empire too small for 2 rulers
Octavian vs. Antony/Cleopatra = defeat of Antony/Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium
Octavian stands as lone ruler and the beginnings of the Roman Empire starts