 As Rome grew, the aristocrats grew richer, and the poor grew poorer  The rich lived on large estates (or farms) where up to thousands of slaves worked

 Slaves in Rome were often conquered people  Slavery was not based on race  Slaves had to work on the large estates  Slaves made up 1/3 the population

 Small farmers could not compete with these large estates  Many were retired soldiers  Some small farmers sold their farms and worked for the aristocrats  Many quit farming and moved to the city to find work

 To add to the troubles, the Romans created too much currency.  Prices of goods and services increased while wages (pay) stayed the same  Called inflation

 The most powerful politicians (Patricians) are also the most powerful generals  These generals started to recruit and pay their own armies from the poor people  Those armies loyal to the general, not the Republic

 Brilliant general  Conquered Gaul (France) for Rome  Fought with his men, they were dedicated to him

 Caesar teamed up with Crassus and Pompey to dominate the Republic as the First Triumvirate  The Roman Senate worried that Caesar was becoming too popular and powerful  They ordered him to disband his army and return to Rome Caesar PompeyCrassus

 Caesar defied the order and marched his men across the Rubicon River, and into Rome  Defeated other members of the triumvirate  Took power and was named dictator for life  Ruled with total power

 Expanded citizenship to provinces  Created jobs by building government buildings  Increased soldiers’ pay  Very popular with the people

 The Roman senate became worried about Caesar again  Some considered him a tyrant  Several Senators, including Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius, assassinated him by stabbing him to death (Ides of March)

 Caesar’s nephew and adopted son  Very shrewd politician  After Caesar’s assassination, Rome broke into civil war.  Octavian emerged as one of the most powerful Romans

 Octavian teamed up with Lepidus and Marc Antony to defeat Caesar’s enemies and take control of the Republic  Eventually Octavian became the most powerful, defeating Antony and his Egyptian ally Cleopatra. (Antony and Cleopatra then committed suicide together). He then forced Lepidus into exile.

 When Augustus defeated Antony, he became Rome‘s first emperor  Maintained power through control of the army and through favors  While the institutions of the republic remained, they had little real power

 Roman Peace  27 BC- 180 AD  Expansion and solidification of Roman Empire  Afforded safety and leisure time inside the empire  Some people talk about a Pax Americana since World War II

 Romans build a network of sophisticated and durable roads  Good for:  Trade  Travel  Moving armies around  Communicating with provinces

 Uniform system of money/currency  Peace encourages trade and prosperity  Trade inside the empire flourished  Trade with India and China

 In such a time of peace, stability returned to social classes  Renewed emphasis on the family

 To control the mass or poor in Rome, the Romans hosted holidays during which Gladiators and/or exotic wild animals would fight each other

 Uniform rule of law  Developed civil service  Expanded control of Europe and Mediterranean world