1. Punic Wars and Rome’s increasing wealth and expansion brought problems to Rome
**Especially the
large gap between
the Rich and the
Poor

2. Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus fight to reform Rome and redistribute land to the poor.
Murdered in 133/121 BC

3. Generals of the legions start paying poor farmers to fight for them
Generals of the legions start paying poor farmers to fight for them. (offer them land in return)
This creates allegiances to the General, not to Rome

4. 88-82 BC: Civil War between 2 generals, Marius and Sulla for power of the Republic
Sulla wins.
Becomes
dictator.

5. 60BC
First Triumvirate
Julius Caesar-
Pompey – military hero
Crassus – richest man in
Rome
(a gov’t by 3 people
with equal power)

6. Crassus killed in battle 53 BC
Civil War breaks out between Caesar and Pompey.
Caesar marches to Rome, becomes popular on the way and this “fame” scared Pompey and he fled.
Caesar
Pompey

7. Julius Caesar named himself dictator for Life.
Gave land to poor, and increased size of the senate to 900, weakening its members
Accused of being a tyrant and murdered in 44BC

9. Second Triumvirate
Octavian – JC’s nephew
Mark Antony – J.C.’s
assistant
Lepidus – commander of
J.C.’s cavalry

10. Civil War between Octavian and Antony (with help of Cleopatra and the Egyptians)
Octavian wins.

12. Octavian becomes the first Roman imperator,
receives the name Augustus
“the revered one”