CHAPTER 7 SECTION 3
BIRTH OF ROMAN EMPIRE
WEAKENING EMPIRE
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By 133 BC days of republic were numbered
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus—need for reform
o Tiberius elected tribune in 133 BC
 Suggested land reforms
 Mob of senators clubbed him to death and his followers
o Gaius—elected tribune in 123 and 122 BC
 Public funds to buy grain—sold to poor at low prices
 Gaius and followers killed in riot
Violence replaces respect for law in Roman politics
SOCIAL WAR
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Ruling groups of Rome’s neighboring allies wanted to share in benefits of empire
o Wanted right to hold public office
o Wanted Roman citizenship
Allies rebel in 91 BC
o Rebel army well trained
o Rome ultimately won—bloody war
o Senate agrees to citizenship for allies—now viewed as Romans
Gaius Marius—elected consul in 107 BC
o Changed political scene
 Created volunteer army
 Troops became more loyal to generals than government
Lucius Cornelius Sulla—elected consul in 88 BC
o Wanted to take military command to ensure fame and fortune
o Marius and others prevented him from this
Sulla marched on Rome—led to civil war
o Ruled as dictator from 82-79 BC
 Enlarged senate by 300 members
 Gave senate complete control over government
 Established that commander with loyal troops could force senate to do
his bidding
CAESAR IN POWER
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Julius Caesar—nephew of Marius
o Spent great deal of money to win support of poor
FIRST TRIUMVIRATE
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In 60 BC Caesar joined with Gnaeus Pompey and Licinius Crassus in a political
alliance
Caesar becomes consul in 59 BC
o Needed support of a loyal army
 Obtained command in Gaul
 During next 10 years brought Gaul under Roman rule
Crassus dies in 53 BC
Pompey appointed consul in 52 BC
o Jealous of Caesar—orders him to return w/o his army
 Caesar marches towards Rome in 49 BC
 Crosses Rubicon River on Jan 10
 Declares war on republic
o Pompey flees to Greece
o Caesar defeats Pompey and invades Egypt
Appoints Cleopatra as ruler of Egypt
o Returns to Rome in 46 BC
In 44 BC declares himself dictator for life
RULE OF CAESAR
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Increased size of Senate to 900 members
Senators Gaius Cassius and Marcus Brutus and others conspire against Caesar
March 15—“Ides of March” 44 BC
o Caesar killed on steps of Senate
ROMAN EMPIRE
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Octavian—Caesars appointed heir
SECOND TRIUMVIRATE
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o Octavian—19 years old
o Marc Antony—ally of Caesar
o Lepidus—Caesar’s second in command
Marc Antony forces Lepidus to retire
Antony and Octavian divide Roman world
o Antony the east
o Octavian the west
Octavian declares war on Antony
o 31 BC naval battle at Actium Greece
 Octavian defeats Antony’s fleet
o 30 BC Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide
OCTAVIAN: THE FIRST AUGUSTUS
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Octavian appointed consul
o Called himself “princeps”—1st citizen
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o 27 BC Senate gives him title Augustus or “Revered One”
o Generally called first Roman emperor
Began series of conquests that expand empire
o From Spain to Syria
o From Egypt to Rhine and Danube Rivers
9 BC Roman troops defeated by German tribes at Elbe River
“Pax Romana”—Roman Peace
o Lasted 200 years
o Political system reduce powers of Senate, assemblies and magistrates
PAX ROMANA EMPERORS
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Augustus dies in 15 AD
o Next 54 years relatives of Julius Caesar ruled Rome—Julio Claudian
Emperors
 Tiberius—14 -37 AD—adequate ruler
 Caligula—37-41 AD—brutal and insane
 Claudius—41-54 AD—conquered Britain; poisoned by wife
Agrippina
 Nero—54-68 AD—killed himself
No clear rule for selecting emperor
AD 69- 4 different emperors ruled—supported by rival army leaders
Flavian Emperors—69-96 AD
o Vespasian – 69 -79
o Titus—79-81
o Domitian—81-96
5 Good Emperors
o Ruled for almost 100 years
 Nerva—96-98 AD
 Trajan—98-117 AD
 Hadrian—117-138 AD
 Antonius Pius—138 -161 AD
 Marcus Aurelius—161- 180 AD
Hadrian tried to Romanize colonies
Marcus Aurelius defended empire against invasion