1. Julius Caesar Born to the patrician class but not the elite amongst them. Elected priest Way to rise in society was through the army Elected to low office – Prosecuting advocate Career took off when he allied with General Pompey – Elected questor – Governor of Spain – Elected Consul

2. 1 st Triumvirate Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus (richest Roman) formed a triple alliance to aid one another in gaining more power Caesar went on to governorship and conquest of Gaul – Uneasy alliance as each was jealous of the others Worsened with the death of Crassus without a counterweight to the more famous generals

3. Civil War Caesar is recalled to Rome to stand trial for overextending his orders – Senate sees Caesar as a threat to the Republic – Illegally returns with his legion – Pompey, as selected defender of the Caesar’s opponents, flees and war breaks out between the armies of Pompey and Caesar Defeats Pompey’s army in Greece and pursues Pompey himself to Egypt where he is murdered Caesar meets Cleopatra and the have a son Caesar returns to Rome and is made dictator for life

4. Caesar’s Reforms Relieved debt and increased representation in the Senate Reformed calendar (Julian) Reorganized local governments Forgave followers of Pompey and granted citizenship to more foreigners Had Senate bestow more titles and awards and honors on him

5. Caesar’s Assassination Popularity with lower classes increased, but members of the Senate….not so much – Envy – Concern about his grab for power (King) – Group of Senators called the “Liberators” led by Cassius and Brutus plotted his assassination Stabbed to death in front of a statue of Pompey on the Ides of March (15)

6. Assassination Aftermath Liberators thought they would be heroes after stabbing Caesar – Mutilated body and Caesar’s will (which gave land and cash to public) changed their minds – Caesar’s divinity questioned when a comet “hairy star” was seen on the Ides of March “Caesar” = “hairy”

7. Assassination Aftermath Rioting ensued and much support was given to Caesar’s right hand man and friend Mark Antony – Liberators flee – But Caesar named grand-nephew Octavius as his heir HUGE SURPRISE, Octavius was a political nobody

8. Octavius to Octavian Took Caesar’s name to cement his place as heir Immediate competition between Octavian and Antony. – Undermining the other’s authority, blocking recognition, etc. – Caesar’s army flocked to Octavian=demonstrated power of the name of Caesar – Shifting alliances in immediate aftermath between Octavian, Antony, Liberators and Senate Octavian elected Consel

9. 2 nd Triumvirate Octavian and Antony reconcile and along with Lepidus form the 2 nd Triumvirate – Divide Empire amongst themselves Junta! Take lands of rivals to pay for army/veterans Defeat the Liberators

10. Breaking of 2 nd Triumvirate Three leaders continued to distrust and compete with one another – Octavius gets in conflict with son of Pompey Lepidus tries to take advantage – Lepidus’ army deserts » Octavian strips Lepidus of any type of power

11. Octavian vs. Antony Octavian emerges as defender of Rome/Senate after beating Sextus and made him very popular Antony not so much, losing battles in East and became ‘involved’ with Cleopatra – Seen as being un-Roman and his association with Caesar’s son puts Octavian’s base of power in a troublesome place – Worried he was going to create an Egyptian based Eastern Empire Senate declared war on Cleopatra

12. Octavian/Augustus vs. Antony Naval battle of Actium sees the end of Antony and Cleopatra – Eastern army defects to Octavian and naval engagement is decisive naval victory for Octavian Antony and Cleo commit suicide Octavian kills Cleo’s sons Changes name…again to Augustus “universal consent” as symbol of the fact he is sole power in Rome.

13. Reign of Augustus Elected Consul every year from 31 BCE until 23 CE – Pater Patriae – Had power of tribune and consul Senate and people gave power to Augustus – Caesar requested/took it – Didn’t deride/abuse Senate

14. Problem of Succession Augustus, like ALL emperors after him, had the problem of naming/choosing a successor. – Wanted stability, and leader not chosen by the elite (…) – Wanted to use family links plus his incredible power Marcellus- nephew-son in law- died young Agrippa-military advisor- son in law-died Tiberius- stepson/son in law

15. Reforms Professionalized the army – Moved army to frontier an out of center of power – Kept them busy and victories made them loyal to him – Praetorian guard Civil Service – Long term appointments – Senate moved to advisory role Limited excess of wealth Caped divorces and punished childlessness and adultry (reinforcement of the family) Rejected divine honors

16. Pax Romana Roman Peace (27 BCE-180 BCE) Peace within the empire Large! Common language and money Building projects – Pantheon: Capitol Building – Roads – Colosseum – Circus Maximus – Aqueducts Good Emperors – Vespasian – Titus – Trajan – Hadrian – Marcus Aurelius Bad Emperors – Caligula – Nero – Commodus