Ch 6 Section 2
Birth of the Roman Empire
ª Weakening Republic-had lasted 400 years
ª Soldiers have no land
ª Republic out growing itself
ª Bureaucracy - nobles to big (greed)
ª Reform needed????
1
Birth of the Roman Empire
ª 2 Brothers- see need for reform
ª Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus
ª Tiberius 133 BC - elected tribune.
ª Troubled by fate of farmer/soldier
ª Felt land had been stolen.
ª Soldiers liked him, Senate doesn t…
Birth of the Roman Empire
ª 2 Brothers
ª Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus
ª Tiberius 133 BC - elected tribune.
ª Troubled by fate of farmer/soldier
ª Felt land had been stolen.
ª Soldiers liked him, Senate doesn’t…
ª Senate clubbed him to death (along
with 100 supporters)
ª FIRST TIME IN 400 YEARS WHERE THERE
WAS A POLITICAL KILLING.. REPUBLIC’S
AT POINT OF NO RETURN. VIOLENCE
REPLACES LAW…..
2
Birth of the Roman Empire
ª Senate clubbed him to death (along
with 100 supporters)
ª FIRST TIME IN 400 YEARS WHERE THERE
WAS A POLITICAL KILLING.. REPUBLIC’S
AT POINT OF NO RETURN. VIOLENCE
REPLACES LAW…..
ª Don’t mess with tradition!
ª Violence now replaced respect for law
Birth of the Roman Empire
ª 2 Brothers
ª Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus
ª Gaius - elected 123 BC.
ª Social War
ª Has Government buy grain and sold it to poor
people for less money--ª Senate not happyª Gaius and 250 followers killed in riots
ª At this point Roman government has
changed.
ª Relationship with allies throughout the
Italian Peninsula in CRISIS
3
Birth of the Roman Empire
ª At this point Roman government has
changed
ª Now it is a Civil War - Roman army
wants benefits of Rome’s power &
SENATE doesn’t want to give up power
Birth of the Roman Empire
ª Social War ??? Not in book
ª 91 BC Bloodiest war in Roman History
ª Rome won, but senate eventually gave
citizenship and political participation to
allies.
4
Birth of the Roman Empire
ª 107 BC Gaius Marius ** not in book!
ª Roman General who makes more
changes
ª First volunteer army ª paid in money, land and loot from victories
Birth of the Roman Empire
ª 107 BC Gaius Marius
ª Roman General who makes more
changes
ª First volunteer army ª paid in money, land and loot from victories
ª 88 BC Lucius Cornelius Sulla
ª Didn’t like Marius, fought little Civil War,
(82-79BC) tries to restore power of
Senate. (Sulla wins)
ª Soldiers become loyal to Generals, not
Government… Starts Dictatorships.
5
Roman Empire
•  Julius Caesar #67
– Mainly because he conquered a lot of
land and made Rome who they are
today.
– 100-44BC
– Nephew of Marius
– Popular General- Charismatic, get into
literature, powerful speaker.
– Actually didn t do that much historically
but…. (Octavian #19 did more but not
as famous)
6
Roman Empire
•  Julius Caesar #67
– 60 BC First Triumvirate (3 people run
Rome
– 1. Caesar - Gaul (France)
Roman Empire
•  Julius Caesar #67
– 60 BC First Triumvirate (3 people run
Rome
– 1. Caesar - Gaul (France)
– 2. Pompey- Sole Consul (Rome) 52 BC
7
Roman Empire
•  Julius Caesar #67
– 60 BC First Triumvirate (3 people run
Rome
– 1. Caesar - Gaul (France)
– 2. Pompey- Sole Consul (Rome) 52 BC
– 3. Crassus - Wealthy, not a lot of
political power. (fire guy - made his
money in real estate)
• Dies in Battle. 53 BC
Roman Empire
•  60 BC First Triumvirate
• Pompey got jealous of Caesar
and made him come home &
return as a civilian.
• Caesar brings army with him and
thus starts civil war (refuses to
play second fiddle to Pompey)
• 49 BC Caesar declares war on
Republic. Pompey flees to
Greece where Caesar defeats
him.
8
Roman Empire
•  46 BC Caesar returns to Rome
•  Senate declares him dictator for life.
– Increases number of Senators to 900
– Reduces power of Senate
Roman Empire
•  46 BC Caesar returns to Rome
•  Senate declares him dictator for life.
–  Increases number of Senators to 900
–  Reduces power of Senate
• Caesar killed
– Brutus- kills Caesar
• Pompey s supporters whom Caesar
had forgiven (forgave Pompey)
• Ides of March (March 15, 44 BC)
9
Roman Empire
 Caesar had chosen his grandnephew
OCTAVIAN #19 as his heir.
Roman Empire
 Caesar had chosen his grandnephew
OCTAVIAN #19 as his heir.
 2nd Triumvirate
 Octavian - 19 years old (similar to Alexander
the Great)
 Mark Anthony = Caesars General & Allie
 Lepidus = Caesars second in command.
10
Roman Empire
 2nd Triumvirate
 Mark Anthony takes the East
 Re conquers Syria & Asia Minor, joins Cleopatra in
Egypt.
 Octavian build power in Italy and gets the
West
 Lepidus is forced to retire.
 Rome is divided (east & west)
Roman Empire
 2nd Triumvirate
 Senate declares war on Marc Anthony
 Naval battle, Octavian defeats fleet
 Capture Alexandria
 Anthony and Cleopatra commit suicide.
 Octavian named first AUGUSTUS
 Augustus = revered one, first citizen,
 Augustus = Octavian (same person)
11
Roman Empire
¤ Octavian becomes 1st Emperor
¤ Octavian = Augustus Caesar #19
£ Died 14 AD
Roman Empire
¤ Octavian becomes 1st Emperor
¤ Octavian = Augustus Caesar #19
£ Roman Republic becomes Roman Empire
£ Empire expands
£ Died 14 AD
£ Pax Romana = Roman Peace - 200 years
¤ Peace came at a price.. Senate,Assemblies
and Magistrates all have their power greatly
reduced.
£ Emperor could abuse power…. Some did!
12
Roman Empire
¤ Julio - Claudian Emperors 14 AD - 68AD
£ 54 years of Julius Caesar relatives ruling
Empire
¤ Tiberius 14 AD- 37 AD
£ Adopted son of Augusta
¤ Caligua 37-41
¤ Cladius 41-54
¤ Nero 54-68
13
Roman Empire - pg 164 chart
¤ Julio - Claudian Emperors 14 AD - 68AD
¤ Army Emperors 68-69 AD
¤ Flavian Emperors 69-96 AD
£ Name comes from the last of the army
emperors
¤ The Five Great Emperors 96-180 AD
£ Marcus Aurelius 161-180….
Roman Empire
¤ 200 years of Peace makes for help in
£ Education
£ Trade
£ Culture
£ Roads
14
Roman Empire
¤ Slaves & Captivity
¤ Gods and Goddesses
¤ Society & Culture
¤ Pages 164-165
15