Chapter 11.3 and 11.4 The End of the Republic and Rome Builds an Empire

1. The Roman army won victories abroad, but the republic faced mounting economic troubles at home. The gap between the rich and the poor grew wider. Farmers faced financial ruin. Cities were becoming overcrowded and dangerous. 2. Plebeians farmed small plots of land but they still lacked power. The patricians or upper class held government jobs and ruled the Senate. 3. In the 100’s B.C. farmers began to fall into poverty.

4. Farmers did not work in their fields due to military duties. Carthaginians destroyed other fields. As a result, they could not pay back their loans. 5. Poor farmers could not compete against the wealthy Romans who owned “latifundia” or large farming estates. 6. Poor farmers could not find jobs either due to prisoners doing all the work. 7. Prisoners were not paid so rich farmers became richer.

8. The poor farmers left to work in the cities because they could not find jobs in the country sites. However, even in the cities the slaves did all the work. Any jobs left over they were low paying jobs. 9. Roman leaders worried about a rebellion. To prevent this they offered cheap food and free entertainment to the poor. 10. Not all wealthy Romans ignored the poor. 11. Tiberious and Gaius Gracchus (brothers) asked the Senate to give some latifundia’s back to the poor.

12. The Senate did not like this because they were the land owners. 13. They even killed Tiberius in 133 B.C. and Gaius was killed 12 years later. 14. Eventually, military leaders began to seek political power. In 107 B.C. a general named Marius became consul. 15. He was not a patrician but a plebeian. 16. He let the poor join the military and paid them wages.

17. The soldiers felt loyal to the general. This gave the general a huge force to back them. 18. In 82 B.C. a general named Sulla drove his enemies out of Rome and named himself dictator.

The Rise of Julius Caesar 1. In 60 B.C. three men ruled the Roman Republic: Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar. Crassus was a general. Pompey and Caesar were rich. They formed the “First Triumvirate” to rule Rome. A triumvirate is a political group of three people who share equal power. 2. By 50 B.C. the First Triumvirate no longer existed. Crassus had died in battle, and Pompey emerged as Caesar’s main rival.

3. In 44 B.C. Caesar took over the Roman government and declared himself dictator for life. 4. He introduced a new calendar. It had 12 month, 365 days, and a leap year. This was known as the Julian calendar. It was used in Europe until A.D Then the Gregorian calendar is based on the date of the birth of Jesus. 5. Brutus and Cassius plotted to kill him. In 44 B.C. his opponents gathered around him as he entered the Senate and stabbed him to death.

6. He did on March 15, also known as the “Ides of March.” This murder was made famous in the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare. In the play, Caesar was warned to “Beware the Ides of March.” 7. After his death, civil war broke out. His 18 year old grandnephew Octavian joined two of Caesar’s top generals, Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus. They defeated those who killed Caesar. 8. In 43 B.C. they formed the Second Triumvirate.

9. Next, they divided the Roman empire among themselves. Octavian took command of Italy and the west. Antony ruled in Greece and the east. Lepidus took control in North Africa. 10. The Second Triumvirate did not last long. Lepidus retired from politics, Octavian and Antony became rivals. Antony fell in love with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra and together they formed an alliance.

Chapter 11.4 Rome Builds an Empire 1. For nearly 200 years the Roman enjoyed peace and growth. This period lasted until about A.D It is know as the Pax Romana or “Roman Peace.” 2. Emperor, Augustus created an army of about 150, He also created a special unit known as the Praetorian Guard of about 9,000 men. 4. Augustus used natural features such as rivers, hilltops, desert area in order to protect his empire.

5. A famous quote by Augustus indicates, “ I found Rome a city of brick, and left it a city of marble. 6. A proconsul, or governor was chosen to oversee each of Rome’s provinces. 7. Augustus often inspected these areas to ensure the proconsul’s did their jobs. 8. Augustus feared that people were unhappy with his rule. To avoid the fear, he imported grain from Africa and distributed it to the poor.

9. Augustus ruled Rome for almost 40 years. After he died, his son, Tiberius became emperor. After Tiberius died, three other emperors from the family took over. A. Caligula (cruel ruler) spent money wildly. He appointed his horse to the consul. The Praetorian Guard killed him placing Claudius in charge. B. Claudius

C. Nero (cruel ruler) Killed many people, especially his mother and two wives. He committed suicide after the Senate sentenced him to death for treason. 10. In A.D. 79, the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted, destroying the city of Pompeii. 11. Five good rulers in the early 100’s A.D.: A. Nerva, A.D B. ATrajan, A.D C. Hadrian, A.D

D. Antoninus Pius, A.D E. Marcus Aurelius, A.D Trajan made money available so that the poor children could receive an education. 13. Hadrian made Roman laws easier for ordinary citizens to understand. 14. They improved Roman cities. They spent tax money to build arches and monuments, bridges, roads, and harbors. They also built extensive aqueducts to bring water from the country to the city.

15. By the A.D. 100’s the Roman Empire was one of the largest empires in history. The land area was about 3.5 million square miles, almost the size of the U.S. 16. By A.D., all Romans were considered citizens and were treated fairly.