Objectives: Students will explore how Rome became an empire. Students will discover what forces held Rome together during the Pax Romana. Main Idea Governmental and social problems led to the end of the Roman Republic and the creation of a new form of government. From Republic to Empire

The Military in Politics 107 BC, social unrest reached new level General Gaius Marius elected consul – Eliminated property restrictions – Accepted anyone who wanted to join army Armies, private forces devoted to general – Poor hoped to share plunder at end of war – Ruthless generals realized loyalty of troops could be used as political tool

Civil War Social War revealed talent of General Lucius Cornelius Sulla Sulla became consul, 88 BC; after consulship ended, Marius tried to prevent Sulla from taking military command Sulla marched on Rome, won civil war, became dictator Carried out program of reforms to protect power of Senate Retired thinking he preserved the republic. Rome’s Italian allies had been trying to obtain Roman citizenship Senate wanted to maintain monopoly on power, refused 90 BC, Social War broke out Italian rebels were defeated, but Senate agreed to give them citizenship The Social War Social and Civil Wars

Sulla paved the way for major changes in Rome’s government. The end of the Republic resulted from the ambitions of a few individuals. Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey, Licinius Crassus helped bring end to Republic Caesar, Pompey successful military commanders Crassus one of wealthiest people in Rome 60 BC, the three took over Roman state, ruled as First Triumvirate The First Triumvirate Crassus died; Pompey, Caesar fought civil war Caesar defeated Pompey, took full control of Rome, became dictator for life, 44 BC Caesar brought many changes to Rome, popular reforms Senate feared he would destroy Roman Republic, murdered him, Ides of March End of Triumvirate Rome Becomes an Empire

Civil War Civil war between Octavian, Antony broke out Octavian defeated Antony and his ally, Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra Cleopatra, Antony committed suicide; Octavian alone controlled Rome Republic effectively dead; new period in Roman history beginning The Second Triumvirate Caesar’s murder did not save the Republic 43 BC, Second Triumvirate took power—Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian; loyal officer Marc Antony; high priest Lepidus Lepidus pushed aside; Antony, Octavian agreed to govern half the empire each, Octavian in west, Antony in East

Octavian Takes Power Octavian faced task of restoring order in empire Had no intention of establishing dictatorship when he took power Principate Octavian careful to avoid title of king or emperor Called himself princeps, “first citizen” Government called Principate New Political Order Octavian decided it impossible to return Rome to republican form of government Created new political order, known today as the empire New Title 27 BC, Senate gave Octavian title Augustus, “the revered one” Title a religious honor; able to wear laurel and oak leaf crown From Octavian to Augustus

New Imperial Government Augustus head of state more than 40 years, made smooth transition to new imperial government with power divided between him and Senate Most financial, administrative matters under Augustus’s control Legacy Created police force, fire brigades; stockpiled food, water Began building program; presided over moral, religious reforms Great period of cultural creativity; great writers like Horace, Ovid, Virgil Foreign Affairs Started program to bring peace to west, particularly to Gaul, Spain Began series of conquests that pushed border eastward to Danube River Also took special care of Rome itself “I found Rome built of bricks; I leave her clothed in marble” The Augustan Age (PAX ROMANA)

The Good Emperors Empire grew tremendously under Good Emperors Reached limits of expansion under Trajan Added what are now Romania, Armenia, Mesopotamia, and the Sinai Peninsula Successor Hadrian thought empire too large – Withdrew from almost all eastern additions – Built defensive fortifications to guard against invasions – Built wall 73 miles long in northern Britain

Laws Roman law unified the empire Laws specified what could, could not be done; penalties for breaking law Same laws applied to everyone in empire, wherever they lived Manufacturing Manufacturing increased throughout empire Italy, Gaul, Spain—artisans made cheap pottery, textiles Fine glassware made in eastern cities like Alexandria Agriculture Agriculture remained primary occupation throughout Pax Romana Most farms, independent with little, no surplus to sell Tenant farmers began to replace slaves on large farms Legal System

Trade Italy imported grain, meat, raw materials from provinces Merchants brought silks, linens, glassware, jewelry, furniture from Asia Rome, Alexandria became commercial centers Military and Merchant Routes Most roads built, maintained for military purposes Cheaper to transport grain by ship from one end of Mediterranean to other than to send it overland; most goods went by sea Transportation Commercial activity possible because of empire’s location around Mediterranean and extensive road network Ultimately about 50,000 miles of roads bound empire together Opportunities for Trade

Bread and Circuses Entertainments Romans of all classes enjoyed circus, chariot races Held in Circus Maximus—racetrack could hold 250,000 spectators Also liked theater, mimes, jugglers, dancers, acrobats, clowns Bloody Spectacles Romans enjoyed spectacles in amphitheaters Wild animals battled each other and professional fighters Gladiator contests most popular, performed in Colosseum for 50,000 people Audiences were often given free food and entertainment WHAT WAS THE REASONING BEHIND THE BREAD AND CIRCUSES? DISTRACTION FROM A WEAKENING EMPIRE AND DESIGNED TO STAVE OFF REBELLION