Name: ___________________________________
History: Chapter 12-4
Date: _______
Period: _____
I. Trouble in Rome
A. Roman’s power in the Mediterranean world was almost complete, but problems at
home grew
1. Roman’s brought enslaved people from conquered lands to the Italian
Peninsula to provide free labor
a. This hurt poor farmers
b. Farmers sold land to wealthy and moved to the cities where they could
not find work and became beggers
B. The wealthy and powerful ignored the problem of the poor
1. They did not want to share their wealth and the problem grew
C. The greed of the wealthy caused problems on the Italian Peninsula and in
conquered lands
1. Roman governors forced conquered people to pay high taxes
a. They spent money on themselves and weapons for the army
D. Rome’s poor had some voice in government, but little power to change things
1. Tribunes were supposed to protect the plebeians
a. However, many became allies to the Senate
II. Attempts at Reform
A. Tiberius Gracchus won election as a tribune in 133 BC
1. He drew up a plan to give back land to the poor
2. The Senate plotted to block any plan that took wealth from the powerful
a. They arranged for another tribune (_Octavius ) to veto Gracchus’ plan
b. Gracchus asked the people to force Octavius from office
i. This was against the law, but was done anyway
B. The Senators decided to kill Gracchus
1. They started a riot that killed Gracchus and 300 others
C. Gaius Gracchus became a tribune 123 BC
1. He tried to carry out his brothers reforms
2. He was killed along with his followers because of his political beliefs
a. The peace and harmony of Rome were broken by the Senates use of
violence
i. For years to come force not law ruled Rome
D. Rome’s weakness made them vulnerable to enemies
1. Roman general Gaius Marius put down a rebellion in Africa saved Rome by
defeating Germanic tribes, and crushed a slave revolt
2. Another Roman general, Sulla defeated rebels on the Italian Peninsula
a. Both Marius and Sulla wanted to rule Rome
i. They fought a Civil war from 88BC to 82BC
ii. Sulla won and declared himself dictator ruling for 3 years
III. The Rise of Caesar
A. In 60 BC, Three Roman men agreed to share power in an arrangement called a
triumvirate
1. All three were powerful generals: Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Caesar
a. Caesar became consul in 59BC
i. He won peoples favor by giving free grain to all who needed it
and providing land to poor people
B. He planned to rule all of Roman lands
1. He captured Gaul and became governor of his new providence
2. He also plotted to get rid of two powerful Senators
a. He did not want anyone in Rome to challenge his power
C. Under Roman law, no governor could lead his army outside his own providence
1. The Rubicon River formed a border between Gaul and the Italian Peninsula
a. Caesar and his army crossed the Rubicon toward Rome in 49 BC
b. Caesar’s army crushed his enemies and he declared himself dictator
for the life of Rome and its Providences
i. A month later, Caesar was assassinated