Chapter Six
Section 2
The price of success
•Roman military
success increased the
wealth of Roman
citizens at home.
•This had both social
and economic
consequences.
Consequences of wealth
•The rich got richer while the poor got poorer
•Wealthy families bought up huge estates, called
latifundia, which were worked by slaves
captured during Roman wars of expansion
•This essentially put small farms out of business
•This is similar to large corporations putting
Mom and Pop shops out of business today
Consequences of wealth
•The now “out of business” farmers flocked
to the streets of Rome creating a “mob”
•This further increased the gap between the
rich and the poor
•Something needed to be done . . .
The Brothers Gracchus
•Two young Patrician brothers named
Tiberius (the older) and Gaius (the younger)
were the first to attempt reforms
The Brothers Gracchus
Tiberius
• Called on the state to
distribute land to
poor farmers
Gaius
•Wished for wider
ranging reforms
•For eaxample- the use of
public funds to buy grain
for the poor
The Beginning of the End
• The Gracchus brothers are eventually murdered
plunging the Roman republic into a period of turmoil
• This showed that the Roman republic was incapable
of changing/adapting to new challenges
• With constant revolts happening throughout
the empire, Rome’s army of citizen soldiers
transformed into a professional military with a
soldiers first allegiance to his commander
Ruling an Empire
The Rise of Caesar
• Out of the chaos comes Julius
Caesar and Pompey the Great
• Caesar and Pompey worked
together to conquer many new
lands abroad as well as the
senate at home
• However, this partnership
would not last. Pompey grew
jealous of Caesar’s growing
success and turns the senate
against him.
•Caesar lead his loyal army
towards Rome and
“crossed the Rubicon
River” – from this point
there was no turning back
for Caesar, he was now
embarking on a civil war
with Pompey that would
change Rome forever
You do not have to write this!
• Rubicon is the ancient name for a small stream or river that
formed part of the boundary between Italy and Cisalpine Gaul.
• The crossing of it by Caesar marked the beginning of the war
with Pompey. Since this event, many Rubicon's have been
breached and the word Rubicon is now synonymous with
boundary, boundary line or limit. Recent history and ongoing
events show how the Rubicon has become symbolic of borders
that define countries and cultures.
•Caesar crushed
Pompey and his
supporters.
•He then swept
around the
Mediterranean
suppressing
rebellions.
Caesar’s Reforms
• He launched a program of public works to
employ the jobless and gave public land to the
poor.
• He also reorganized the government of the
provinces and granted Roman citizenship to
more people.
• A reform that we still feel today was the
introduction of a new calendar based on
Egyptian knowledge.
Caesar’s Reign
Beware of the Ides of March
• Fearful of Caesar’s growing power and popularity,
Caesar’s fellow statesmen conspired against him
• In march 44 B.C. they stabbed him to death.
•The death of Julius Caesar plunged Rome
into a new round of civil wars.
The Betrayal of Julius
New power struggles
• Mark Antony was Caesars top general
• Octavian was Caesar’s grandnephew
• These two joined forces to hunt down Caesar’s
murderer (s)
New power struggles
• Like Pompey and Caesar,
Mark Antony and
Octavian soon battled for
power.
• Mark Antony sides with
the famous Egyptian
queen Cleopatra, but is
eventually defeated by the
young, brilliant Octavian
... her fascinating speak, her beautiful voice,
“the skill and acuteness of her speech” ... she
spoke six languages ... she was a smart
negotiant ... and a first order military strategist
Octavian  Augustus
• The senate gave the
triumphant Octavian the
title of Augustus (exalted
one) and declared him
princeps (first citizen).
• Augustus exercised
absolute power but was
careful not to call himself
king.
Augustus
•Under Augustus the 500 year old republic
came to an end. A new age had dawned -The age of the Roman empire
Augustus
Augustus
Pax Romana
• Augustus undertook economic reforms.
• The government that Augustus organized
functioned well for 200 years.
• Still the problem persisted … Who rules
when an emperor, princeps, dictator, ruler,
dies?
•Romans, still hated the idea of a King
(even though basically ruled by one)
•So they rejected the idea of passing down
rule through inheritance (father to son)
• So, when an emperor would die, it would often
be followed by times of violence and warfare
• Augustus was a good emperor, but there were
also bad emperors
• For example …
•Emperor Caligula appointed his favorite
horse as consul.
• Nero viciously persecuted Christians
• and was blamed for setting a great fire that
destroyed much of Rome.
Pax Romana
• The golden age of Rome lasted from Augustus
to Marcus Aurelius
• It is known as Pax Romana or Roman Peace
Golden Age
Roman Society
• Like many other ancient
societies, Ancient Rome
was patriarchal.
• Romans stressed education
for both genders
• Roman gods and goddesses
resembled those of the
Etruscans and Greeks (
Cultural Diffusion)
The roles of family and religion
Bread and Circuses
• Throughout the empire rich and poor alike
were entertained by spectacular shows.
• This is where gladiator contests became
popular.
• During these shows – often taking place at
The Coliseum – the emperor would give out
bread
How do you think the
founders of the Roman
republic would have
viewed the Roman
empire ?