Rome: Republic to
Empire
After the Punic Wars, conquests and control of busy trade routes brought
incredible riches into Rome. Generals, officials, and traders amassed
huge fortunes from loot, taxes, and commerce. A new class of wealthy
Romans emerged. They built lavish mansions and filled them with
luxuries imported from the east. Wealthy families bought up huge
estates called “Latifundia.” As the Romans conquered more and
more lands, they forced people captured in war to work as slaves on the
Latifundia instead of offering them full citizenship through the Roman
Confederation.
The widespread use of slave labor hurt small farmers, who were unable to
produce food as cheaply as the Latifundia could. The farmers’
problems were compounded when huge quantities of grain pouring in
from the conquered lands drove down grain prices. Many farmers fell
into debt and had to sell their land.
In despair, landless farmers flocked to Rome and other cities looking for
jobs. There, they joined an already restless class of unemployed
people. As the gap between rich and poor widened, angry mobs began
to riot. In addition, the new wealth led to increased corruption. Greed
and self-interest replaced virtues such as simplicity, hard work, and
devotion to duty, which had been so prized in the time of the early
republic. Members of the Senate and House of Plebs were frequently
bribed by the rich to overlook the vast inequalities that were forming.
Rome was on the edge of utter chaos and civil war.
What would you do to solve the problem?
The Army Offers a Solution
• 107 B.C.
– Roman general Marius
becomes consul, offers a
solution.
– Poor farmers should join
the army!
• Generals promised land for
their service!
• Increases power of generals.
How might this lead to future
problems?
• Powerful generals will use
their armies to try to seize
political power!
– Sulla, 82 B.C.
An Age of Civil Wars
The next 50 years of Roman history
were characterized by chaos –
civil wars, slave revolts, and a
still corrupt senate. During this
time, three generals made an
alliance to dominate Rome.
• Triumvirate
– A government ruled by
three people with equal
power.
• The First Triumvirate
– Crassus
– Pompey
– Julius Caesar
Triumvirate to Dictator
The First Triumvirate was so powerful that
the senate couldn’t help but listen to them.
They dominated Roman politics together
until Crassus died in battle in 53 B.C.
• Pompey and Caesar
quickly become rivals.
• Senate fears Julius
Caesar’s popularity.
– Sends Caesar a note
relieving him of
command of his legions.
• He refuses.
– Caesar marches on Rome
• “Crossing the Rubicon”
• Pompey flees
Triumvirate to Dictator
• Caesar forces senate to vote him
“dictator for life”
– Then uses his army to hunt
down and kill Pompey.
Though a dictator, Julius Caesar uses
his power to bring about many
popular reforms
• Caesar’s reforms
– Gave government lands
to the poor.
– Increased number of
Senators to 900.
– New “Julian” Calendar.
Dictator back to
Triumvirate
Though Julius Caesar was mostly popular in
the eyes of the people, the wealthiest
Patrician Senators hated him for taking
away their power.
• Caesar’s death.
– Assassinated by Senate in 44 B.C.
• Who should be his successor?
• Three men wanted the job. Because
Caesar never named a successor, the
Senate instituted the “Second
Triumvirate”
– The Second Triumvirate
• Octavian
– Caesar’s nephew
• Marc Antony
– Caesar’s right hand man
• Lepidus
– Caesar’s cavalry general
Another Civil War
The Second Triumvirate ruled Rome for
nearly a decade until the death of Lepidus.
• Octavian vs. Marc Antony
– Octavian wins in the battle
of Actium, 31 B.C.
– Marc Antony flees back to
Egypt where he and his
girlfriend Cleopatra commit
suicide.
• A Roman “Emperor”
– When Octavian returned to
Rome, the Senate gave him a
few new titles.
– “Imperator” = Emperor
– “Augustus” = Revered One
Augustus Caesar
Now the first “Emperor” of Rome, Augustus
used the army to consolidate his power…
• Reforms of Augustus
– Huge army
• 150,000 legionnaires
• 150,000 auxilary troops
– Emperor given the power to
appoint governors in the provinces.
• Gave him control over all
territory besides Italy.
With the threat of civil war gone, Rome
entered an unprecedented period of
expansion and cultural advancement.
• Pax Romana
– “Roman Peace”
– 27 – c.200 A.D.