Ms. Soles Social Studies: Europe & Russia Lesson 45 Ancient Roman Rulers

Let’s take a new and creative route to our destination: Rome, Italy! Google Earth

Roman Leaders and Emperors s/roman-leaders-and- emperors

Rome was a huge and very rich empire after the second Punic War, but the Senate did a poor job of running the republic. The senate was designed to govern a city, not a growing empire. The Roman Republic 40 BC after Caesar’s Conquests

The senators sometimes took bribes or were not careful about how they voted in the forum. Many Romans wanted a stronger leader, and the very ambitious Julius Caesar was an obvious choice.

Caesar sought to fill the office of consul in 60BC. He had recently returned from Spain where he served a year as the governor. The two consuls at the time were Crassus and Pompey, who were the leaders of the war against the slave revolt.

Rather than become involved in a struggle, Caesar convinced Crassus, Pompey, and the Roman Senate to name him a third consul. This joining of three equal rulers later became known as the First Triumvirate.

When Caesar’s year-long term as consul ended, he used his influence to get himself chosen governor of Gaul. Gaul was a territory northwest of the Italian peninsula. He led an army that captured most of Western Europe. Caesar’s successes on the battlefield made him the most popular man in Rome.

Gaul, in five parts, before being conquered by the Romans.

Roman silver Denarius showing the head of a captive Gaul, 48 BC, which followed the campaigns of Julius Caesar.

In 49BC, the Senate ordered Caesar to return to Rome, but to leave his army behind. Caesar was afraid that his opponents would destroy him, so he ignored the order and marched his army back to Rome. Fighting among those struggling for power followed.

Caesar’s orders clearly told him not to bring his army across the Rubicon River. When he marched the army across the river, he knew he faced an important decision. Caesar knew that if he obeyed the senate and disbanded, (broke up), his army, his career would be over;

However, if he marched his troops across the river, the Senate would order Pompey and his army to retaliate, or fight back.

Rubicon: The Latin word rubico The comes from “rubeus”, meaning “red”, it’s water looks red because of mud deposits.

Caesar’s army seized control of Italy as Pompey and his army fled to Greece. Caesar hunted Pompey and defeated his army. Pompey then escaped to Egypt with Caesar in pursuing him. When Caesar arrived in Egypt, the ten-year-old king of Egypt, Ptolemy XIII, presented Caesar with Pompey’s decapitated head.

Image of Ptolemy XIII from the Temple at Kom Ombo

The Roman people admired Caesar as a war hero and a very strong leader. In 46BC, they elected him the Dictator of Rome. A dictator is a ruler with complete control. In that time period, dictators were temporary rulers elected in times of crisis, Caesar was elected because of his popularity.

The last Roman dictator had been elected almost 150 years earlier, at the end of the second Punic War, (with Hannibal). Caesar used his power to make many changes in Rome, often without approval from the Senate.

He made official, the Julian calendar of 365¼ days. Caesar’s calendar is much like the calendar we use today. The month of July is named in honor of Caesar. A year after his election as dictator, the Roman people elected Caesar “dictator for life.”

Other Accomplishments by Julius Caesar 1) Many new laws relating to: taking a census, limiting terms for governors, rewarding families having children, the empire’s debt reduction, and many more.

2) The construction of many public works, such as the Forum of Caesar.

Julius Caesar also: 3) Established a police force. 4) Made plans to distribute land to 15,000 of his veteran soldiers. 5) Changed tax collections to give more freedom to cities.

6) Ordered the rebuilding of Carthage and Corinth. CarthageTemple of Apollo from Ancient Corinth

Statues at Museum in Corinth Corinthian Columns in Ancient Corinth

The Roman senators were totally outraged at Caesar’s power and popularity. On March 15, 44BC, Caesar was met by a mob of sixty senators who stabbed the dictator to death.

List of Emperors after Julius Caesar’s Death _Roman_Emperors

It’s time to leave the Roman emperor’s and travel back home and to the present! Good-bye for now! Google Earth

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