1. From Republic To Empire
SS.A.2.4.5; SS.B.2.4.1; SS.B.1.4.4

2. The Power of the Senate
“Fortune began to grow cruel…for greed destroyed honor, integrity and all other noble qualities”~Sallust, 133 B.C.
200 BC: All power lies with the Senate
Most senators=rich land owners/families
Directed wars
Controlled domestic & foreign policy
Controlled $

3. Inequality & Unrest Most land owned by rich
Small farmers forced to in cities; poor
Poor masses growing angry
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, try to help, ask Council of the Plebes to pass land reforms
Take land from rich, give to poor
Reforms anger Senate, Senators kill Gracchus brothers

4. New Roll For Roman Military
Early Roman army=small land owners
Marius (consul of Rome in 107 BC) begins recruiting from city’s poor, no land
These new volunteers swore loyalty to Marius, not Rome/Senate- no gov. control
To get land for army vets, Generals now involved in politics, Gen=power
Gens Sulla & Marius fight civil war
Sulla takes control of Rome (82 BC), and after killing all opposition, restores power to Senate

5. Collapse of the Republic
82-31 BC: 50 years of Civil War
Crassus, Pompey & Julius Caesar rise
First triumvirate
Crassus dies in battle, Senate decides Pompey should be only ruler
Caesar refuses to give up power, brings army across Rubicon River, attack Rome
Pompey dies, Caesar only ruler left
45 BC: Caesar=dictator; assassinated 44 BC

6. Caesar’s Legacy Increased Senate to 900 members Gave land to poor
New calendar—Julian Calendar
New buildings in Rome
Running water for all
Triumphs: public parties marking his military victories

7. The Julian Calendar Ianuarius 31 Februarius 28 Martius 31 Aprilis 30
Maius 31
Iunius 30
Quintilis (Iulius) 31
Sextilis (Augustus) 31
September 30
October 31
November 30
December 31
Intercalaris 0
Total: 365 days
Leap year rather than Intercalaris

8. Second Triumbirate
After Caesar’s death; Octavian, Marc Antony, Lepidus—after few years, Lep out
Caesar Octavian vs. Marc Antony
31 BC: Octavian crushes joint army of Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt
Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide
At age 32, Octavian alone rules Roman Empire—changes name to Caesar Augustus (Pax Romana: 31 BC-AD 14)