ROME:
REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE
“VENI, VIDI, VICI”
- JULIUS CEASER
“…REMEMBER, ROMAN,
TO RULE THE PEOPLE UNDER THE LAW, TO ESTABLISH
THE WAY OF PEACE, TO BATTLE DOWN THE HAUGHTY,
TO SPARE THE MEEK. OUR FINE ARTS, THESE FOREVER”
-VIRGIL
INFLUENCES
ETRUSCANS
GREEKS
Urban planning
Chariot Racing
Toga
Bronze/Gold Crafting
Arch
Sarcophagi (decorated coffins)
Pantheon – with different names
Linguistic/Literary principles
Greek Classical Style (art) - copied
EARLY REPUBLIC
• 509 BCE Latins overthrow Etruscans –
beginning of Roman Empire
• Slowly form a government “of the people” (res
publica) through a series of documents that
formed a living constitution
500 – 200 BCE -Struggle of Orders:
• Patricians vs. Plebeians
• Class determined by law (not tradition or custom)
• 494BCE Plebeians threaten to leave Rome
– Win: right to elect two representatives (tribunes) who has
absolute veto power (except military/dictator actions),
could not be called to account for their actions, could not
be harmed
• Other rights won:
– Lex Canuleia: Right to inter-marry
– Licinian-Sextian laws: one counsel per year must be a
plebeian, Praetor – serve as assistant consul, law
restricting how much land one person could have
– Lex Hortensia: Decision of the Assembly of Tribes binding
on the whole state without action by any other body
Roman Imperialism
• Assimilation and Compromise
• Punic Wars (Rome vs. Carthage)
– First War – uprising in Sicily
– Second War – Hannibal seeks revenge
– Third War – Rome seeks revenge
• How did Rome’s drive to expand led to the
downfall of the empire?
What were the causes of the
“Roman Revolution”?
Senatorial Class =
growing in
number/wealth
wanted to maintain
their power
(consolidate power)
Urban Masses =
separated from land
and citizenship,
giving political rights
and allegiance away
for $$$
Army = disgusted by
both Senatorial class
and urban masses
Roman
Revolution
Roman Revolution
Constant succession of Civil War from 133-27 BCE
• Threefold Problem
• Class Struggles (redux)
– Optimates vs. Populares
• The Tale of the Gracchus Brothers an example
of political life during the time period
– Tiberius and Gaius
– Who were the Gracchus brothers? How did they
try to fix the problems facing Rome?
Path to Political Leadership
Senate vs. the
masses (fear of
masses vs.
resentment of
privilege)
Appear as a
solider/Hero
Create a personal
army, march on
Rome, Restore
peace and
prosperity
Why did the Republic fall?
Which do you think was more
influential in the fall of the Roman
Republic – Rome’s aggressive
imperial policy, or the social
inequity created between the
landowners and peasants?
Julius Caesar
• Held a variety of offices in the Roman
Government (including Consul but was above
all else a Roman general)
• 60 BCE - First Triumvirate: Pompey, Crassus,
Caesar
• Gaul
• 49 BCE crosses the Rubicon
• Dictator for Life (killed a month later: March
15, 44 BCE – Ides of March)
• Explain how it was Julius Caesar who set in
motion the fall of the Republic.
Second Triumvirate & the Rise of Octavian
• Marc Antony (east), Octavian(west),
Lepidus(Sicily/North Africa)
• Octavian – alliance with senate to remove
Lepidus pitting Antony and himself against
each other for a battle for the Empire
• Antony and Cleopatra vs. Octavian
• Battle of Actium (31 BC) – Augustus Caesar
• Roman Empire Begins
Augustus Caesar (Octavian)
•
•
•
•
Ruled Empire of 45 years (death 14 AD
Senate handpicked by Augustus (800 senators
Oath of Allegiance to Augustus as Emperor
Granted Authority of Tribune (veto power,
deal directly with people)
• Consolidated powers under him (consul,
tribune, chief priest, public censor)
• Princeps (first citizen among equals)
Problems and Solutions addressed by Augustus
Problems
Solutions
- Northern Frontiers under
attack: civil wars =
weakening of frontiers
- Army too large and
unmanageable: “State
within a state”
- Issues confronting Urban
population and small
farmers
- Issues with promoting
confidence with senatorial
class (gaining/keeping
support)
- Frontiers consolidated
- Army: reduced in size, stationed in
providences, paid soldiers who
served 20 years (securing loyalty to
Roman state); removed from Rome
- Praetorian Guard: elite corps of
9000; stationed in Rome; from Italy;
received higher pay; personal
bodyguard
- Made senatorial class feel like they
still had power (entrusted them)
- Stabilized economy – Med. Basin
self-sufficient
Greeks vs. Romans
• How does the author differentiate between
the values and worldview of the Greeks and
Romans?
• Based on what you have learned so far to you
agree or disagree with this argument?
Reasons for the Fall of Rome
• What were the strengths and greatest
achievements of the Romans Empire?
• What were the weaknesses?
• Why did Rome fall? (DBQ)