1. The Fall of the Republic

2. Get Ready To Read…
By the end of the Third Punic War, Rome ruled the Mediterranean world. All was not well, however. Closer to home, the republic faced increasing dangers the would soon lead to its end.

3. Vocabulary Latifundia – Large farming estates
Triumvirate – a political alliance of three people

4. Trouble

5. Rich vs Poor
The patricians ruled Rome and had large farms, ran the Senate, and held the most powerful jobs
Moreover, the wealthy land owners created latifundia - large farming estates
The enslaved people tended the farms
Roman farmers were not paid for their crops
Farmers fought in wars; farms went to waste

6. Overcrowding Farmers who could not pay their taxes, sold their farms
These farmers headed to the cities looking for work
Enslaved people had most of the jobs (cheap labor)
People became very angry with no work, home, or food
Blamed the politicians for their woes

7. Bread and Circuses
To avoid riots, Roman politicians created entertainment to win over the poor
Cheap food and entertainment
Many dishonest rulers came to power and stayed…why?

9. Not all patricians agreed with the wealthy having everything
Tiberius and Gaius (two brothers) felt the Senate should take the farmed land from the wealthy and give it back to the poor
Both brothers were killed
Several Senators owned the taken farm land and did not want to lose what was gained recruited/changed the army
The army went from volunteers to being a paid profession (promised land in exchange for service)

10. Julius Caesar

11. Over time, Roman leaders battled for power.
Three leaders formed a triumvirate (alliance of three people)
Pompey
Caesar
Crassus

12. Power
Thanks to his military experience, Caesar was able to guide his loyal soldiers and took over Rome
He defeated Pompey’s army while Crassus was killed in a foreign land
Julius Caesar declared himself dictator for life in 44BC

13. Accomplishments
Caesar knew reforms were needed which made him a favorite of the poor:

14. Ides of March March 15th: A warning given by an Oracle to Caesar
Brutus (friend of Caesar) feared Julius wanted to be king – along with other enemies of Caesar, they stabbed Caesar and killed him
Et tu Brute?
And you Brutus?

15. Empire

16. After Caesar’s death, Rome was in a civil war
Caesar’s grandnephew, Octavian, created a second Triumvirate along with two generals:
Anthony and Lepidus
*Anthony fell in love with Cleopatra (Egyptian Queen) and this alarmed Octavian
- Octavian convinced the Roman army to declare war on Anthony
- In 31 BC, Octavian won

17. Augustus
Octavian knew people favored a republic as opposed to dictatorship
Cicero – a political writer and speaker – convinced many people dictatorship was wrong
His ideas influenced the writers of the US Constitution
Octavian changed his name to Augustus and called himself, “Imperator” = Emperor = Commander in Chief