Roman Expansion: Republic to Empire
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Presentation Transcript
12/8 Focus: • Rome grew rapidly, and growth brought political, economic, and social changes. Some leaders attempted reforms, but the republican government was unable to deal with the problems caused by these changes. • Important Terms: • Empire • Do Now: • What was one effect of the Roman victory in the Punic Wars?
Ancient Rome Roman Expansion From Republic to Empire
Roman Expansion • Rome defeats Carthage in the Punic Wars • Controls the western Mediterranean • conquered Macedonia, Greece, and parts of Anatolia • controls the Eastern Mediterranean
Roman Expansion • Rome gave many of the people it conquered citizenship and made them allies • Made it easier to control large empire • increased the size of the army The Emblem of the Roman Army SPQR= the Senate and People of Rome
The Roman Military • All landowning men 17-46 had to serve in the army during wartime • Roman army organized into legions • Legions divided into centuries led by Centurions • Highly disciplined and a well trained soldiers
The Roman Military • Frequent warfare made the army stronger • War increased the wealth of Rome • rewarded successful generals by giving them power in the government
The highest honor for a general was a "triumph," a grand parade through the streets of Rome. The victorious general, dressed up to look like the supreme god Jupiter, rode in a chariot. Behind him marched the soldiers, carrying the many valuables taken from the enemy and leading the prisoners of war.
Expansion Creates Problems • Conquest brings tremendous wealth to Rome • leads to corruption; gov’t leaders become greedy
Expansion Creates Problems • The gap between wealthy and poor grows • Soldiers (legionnaires) return to Rome and live in poverty • Senate favors the wealthy and ignores the poor • Tiberius And Gaius Gracchus attempt to reform Rome but are killed by mobs at the urging of senators
Expansion Creates Problems • Soldiers in the army began to have loyalty to a particular general rather than Rome • Rome changes requirement of landownership to join army • Lead to increased numbers of poor people in the army hoping to gain riches from spoils of war • Generals begin to develop their own “private” armies which they can use to increase their own power • Generals begin to fight each other for control of government
Closure • Why would it be helpful to Rome to give rights to people that it conquered? • Identify one problem created by Roman expansion.
12/10 Focus: • Governmental and social problems led to the end of the Roman Republic and creation of new form of government. • Important Terms • Triumvirate, PaxRomana • Do Now: • Why did Rome offer many of the people that it conquered some of the benefits of being Roman citizenship?
The First Triumvirate • Three men take over the Republic in 60 BC • Julius Caesar • General who had conquered Gaul • Pompey • General conquered Syria and Asia Minor • Crassus • Wealthy Roman citizen
Civil War • Crassus’s dies • Caesar and Pompey fight for control of Rome • Caesar wins civil war and is made dictator for life by the Senate
Julius Caesar • Reforms Rome which makes him popular with the public • Improves court system • Gives property to the poor and veterans
Julius Caesar • Senators feared his growing power • A group of senators murder Caesar on March 15, 44 BC • Stabbed 23 times • E Tu Brute?
Octavian (Augustus Caesar) • Adopted son of Julius Caesar • Shared power with Marc Anthony after Caesar’s murder • Becomes the sole ruler of Rome in 31 BC • defeats Marc Anthony at the Battle of Actium • Senate gives him the title “Augustus” • Meant “respected one”; first citizen. • Becomes the first Emperor of Rome • Had absolute power • Marks the end of the Roman Republic
Augustus Caesar • Restores peace to Rome • Start of the Pax Romana • The Roman Peace • Expands the Roman Empire into Western Europe • Spain, northern Gaul, Hungary, Croatia
Augustus Caesar • Massive public works projects • Bridges, roads, aqueducts • Public entertainment • Coliseum, gladiators, and games • Bread and Circuses (fed and entertained people) • Had support of the people • Was worshipped as a god by the people • Dies in 41 AD
Pax Romana • “The Roman Peace” • 200 years of peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire • Characteristics of the Pax Romana • Stable government • Strong legal system • Widespread Trade due to the extensive road networks in the Empire • Peace
Points for Discussion • Identify one factor that contributed to the end of the Roman Republic and the start of the Roman Empire. • Identify one contribution that Augustus made as ruler of Rome.
Closure • What was the Pax Romana?