From Republic to Empire

1. From Republic to Empire The Roman Republic, in the face of changing social and economic conditions, succumbed to civil war and was replaced by an imperial regime, the Roman Empire

2. The Republic Collapses • Increasing wealth & expanding boundaries brought many problems • Led to end of the republic & beginning of a new system

3. Roman Expansion: Preparedness meets Opportunity • Three Stages • Conquest of Italy • Conflict with Carthage & expansion into western Mediterranean Sea • Domination of Hellenistic kingdoms in the eastern Mediterranean

4. The Republic Collapses • Economic problems-growing gap between rich & poor • Rich landowners-latifundia • Slaves flooded into Rome- displaced small farmers • Some became itinerant workers, some went to the city & became urban poor

5. Effects of Expansion: Social & Economic • New class of wealthy Romans emerges • Latifundia: estates of the wealthy • Wealth increased corruption • Greed and self interest replaced loyalty and virtue • Spread of slave labor • Roman farmers competed with farmers from other lands • Grain prices dropped • Forced out of business; lost farms • Forced to move to Rome for jobs • Joined angry mobs that rioted a latifundium, or large-scale 'plantation', during the Republic

6. Attempts at Reform • Brothers, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus • Elected tribunes by Plebeian class • Saw need for reforms on behalf of the poor • Provide land and grain to the poor • Hated by wealthy Senators • Both assassinated

7. Military Upheaval • Generals seized power • Recruited soldiers from landless poor • More loyal to generals than to the republic • Loss of citizen-soldiers • Military leader supported by his troops could take over by force Horatio-Ideal Roman soldier

8. A Century of Civil War • Revolts demonstrated weaknesses of Republic • Civil wars lasted 100 years • Main issue: who should rule? • The Senate: maintain style of government • Consuls: enact reforms Sulla wins for the Patricians and become a dictator

9. Julius Caesar Takes Control • In 60 BCE, Caesar, Crassus, Pompey formed ruling triumvirate • Caesar successful in Gaul-others jealous of his popularity-fearful of his ambition • In 50 BCE, the Senate ordered him to disband his legions & return to Rome

10. Crossing the Rubicon“Alea jacta est!”=“The Die is Cast” • Caesar refused to disband his legions • Returned to Rome crossing the Rubicon River • Pompey fled and Caesar defeated Pompey • In 46 BCE, Caesar returned to Rome where he had support of army & people • “Veni, Vidi, Vici” • Senate appointed him dictator for life

11. Caesar’s Reforms • Governed as absolute ruler • Created public works to employ jobless • Gave public land to poor • Increased pay for soldiers • Opened citizenship to more people • Restructured the government • Expanded & packed the Senate w/ his supporters • New calendar-Julian still used today

12. Caesar’s Death: “Beware the Ides of March” • Enemies feared his growing power • Plotted his death to save the Republic • stabbed on Senate floor • Mark Antony & Octavian (Julius Caesar’s nephew & adopted son) hunted down murderers • Octavian turned on Marc Antony- claimed power in 31 BCE • Octavian became Augustus • unchallenged ruler • imperator • “supreme military commander” • emperor

13. What caused decline of Roman Republic? • Spread of slavery in agricultural system • Migration of small farmers into cities & unemployment • Civil War over power of Julius Caesar • Devaluation of Roman currency; inflation

14. From every towering roof the rubbish falls,striking the head, and injuries grow rank.See how pots strike and dint the sturdy pavementThere's death from every window where you move.You'd be a fool to venture out to dine,Oblivious of what goes on above,Without you having penned the dotted lineOf your last testament,You can but hope they spill a chamberpot.From every towering roof the rubbish falls,striking the head, and injuries grow rank.See how pots strike and dint the sturdy pavementThere's death from every window where you move.You'd be a fool to venture out to dine,Oblivious of what goes on above,Without you having penned the dotted lineOf your last testament,You can but hope they spill a chamberpot. Juvenal A Hypothetical Roman Tenement Building. In the upper-left corner, a chamberpot is being dumped on the street below. In the lower-right corner, a chamberpot is being emptied into a barrel located under a staircase. Both methods of waste disposal were common in ancient Rome

15. Augustus Creates Vast & Powerful Empire • End of republic/beginning of empire • For next 200 years, period of peace & prosperity; Pax Romana • Agriculture provided sufficient food- what Romans didn’t grow came through trade • Common coinage-the denarius made trade efficient • Vast trade network for basic goods & luxuries • Ships from east sailed Mediterranean protected by navy • Rome even traded w/ India & China • Complex road system linked empire for trade & military movement

16. What was the “Pax Romana”? • Two centuries of peace & prosperity under imperial rule • Expansion & solidification of Roman Empire

17. Pax Roman: Roman Peace27-BCE- 180 CE • Egyptians farmers supplied empire w/ grain • Africa provided wild animals, ivory, gold • India provided spices, cotton, gems • Persians linked Roman roads w/ Silk Road to China • Greeks provided new ideas & philosophies

18. Augustus Creates Stable Government • Efficient civil service - enforced the Law • Rule of Law • High-level jobs open to all regardless of class • Ordered a census to fairly tax all cities • Postal service • Common coinage • Provided jobs • Secure travel & trade throughout the Empire

19. The Roman World • Rome emphasized discipline, strength, loyalty • People w/ these qualities, had virtue of gravitas • Rome honored strength more than beauty, power more than grace, usefulness more than elegance • Most people lived in countryside but the empire was based in the city • Roman empire was very diverse but also very class conscious

21. Roman Society • Family basic unit of society • Patriarchal-male head of household (father) • absolute power • Strict discipline • Demanded total respect • Wife subject to his authority

23. Roman Society: Women • Subservient to male head of family-could not administer own affairs • Ideal woman was loving, dutiful, dignified, strong • Wove cloth at home • Played larger role than Greek women • Some ran businesses, supported the arts • Most worked at home

25. Roman Society: Education • All Romans encouraged to be literate • Wealthy hired tutors- usually Greeks • Taught history & rhetoric

27. Roman Society: Religion • Based on Etruscan & Greek gods/goddesses

29. Roman Society: Religion • Calendar filled w/ feasts & celebrations • Honored gods-ensure divine favor • Inspired sense of community • Worshiped in temples that were everywhere • Not ethical, moral or emotional

30. Slavery

31. Good Emperors • Hadrian • Codified Roman law • Built walls in Britain; prevented non-Romans from attacking • Marcus Aurelius • Tried to live up to Plato’s ideal philosopher king • Wrote the Meditations • Stoic Philosophy of commitment to duty

33. Bad Emperors • Caligula • Appointed his favorite horse as consul • Nero • Had members of his own family killed • Persecuted Christians and blamed them for causing the terrible fire that destroyed a large area of the city where the poor lived

34. Family & Religion: Changing Role of Women • Patriarchal society • Ideal woman: loving, dignified, strong • Greater freedom over time • Patrician women had greatest rights • Roman women had more than Greek women • Went to public baths, dined out, attended theater • Some held public office • Ran businesses • Earned fortunes • Most common job was housewife

35. Education • Girls & boys learned to read/write • Upper/lower classes educated • Rhetoric important to upper classes

37. Religion • Polytheistic • Pious but not personal, ethical or morals • Inspired by Greek gods & goddesses • Roman calendar filled w/ feasts to honor them • Public display-All participated–sense of community • Numerous cults emerged – popular with women • “Cult of the Emperor”

38. The Games: Bread and Circuses • Chariot Races at the Circus Maximus • Gladiator Games in the Colisseum • Kept the mobs entertained and happy • Provided free grain to the poor • Didn’t solve Rome’s problems

39. Roman Achievement: Blending & Spreading Greco- Roman Civilization • Rome borrowed & absorbed Greek ideas • Greek culture was the height of culture • Horace said, “ Greece has conquered her rude conqueror” • Trade & travel during the Pax Romana helped spread Greco-Roman civilization

40. Roman Achievement: Art • Sculpture • Borrowed from Greeks • Very realistic • Decorated homes, gardens, public areas

41. Roman Achievement:Paintings/Mosaics • Used stone • Different techniques • Captured scenes of everyday life

42. Roman Achievement: Coins • denarius • worth about a day's wages for a skilled laborer or craftsman. • Used to pay the army • Used to pay taxes • sestertius and the as • used for smaller everyday purchases by the common people • The denarius was a silver coin between the size of a modern dime and a nickel Coins from 118 BCE

43. Roman Achievement: Architecture • Very large, imposing buildings • Unique designs • Colosseum • Baths of Caracalla • Pantheon

44. Roman Achievement:Engineering • Roads • Bridges • Harbors • Aqueducts • Plumbing

45. Roman Achievement:Science • Borrowed from the Greeks • Rarely did their own research • Applied what they learned from the Greeks to practical situations/needs • Geography • Greek Astronomer Ptolemy’s study of the Universe • Greek Scientist Galen’s study of science used scientific method to reach conclusions

46. Literature: Virgil • Poet • The Aeneid • Linked to Homer’s works • Aeneas, soldier who escaped Troy to found Rome • Taught patriotism and unity

47. Literature: Ovid • Poet • Linked Greek and Roman culture as well • Connected Greek gods to Roman gods

48. Literature:Horace & Juvenal • Satirists who made fun of Roman culture • Similar to today’s The Simpsons or South Park, or Saturday Night Live

49. Historians: Livy • goal was to restore pride in Rome • Recalled Rome’s great past • Recounted tales of heroes (Horatius & Cincinnatus)

50. Historians: Tacitus • Criticized past emperors • Claimed leaders like Augustus destroyed Roman liberty