Ancient Rome

1
Ancient Rome

• The Late Republic and Civil War

2
Goals/Objectives

• Problems in Republic
• Rise and fall of Caesar
• Mark Antony, Cleopatra, Octavian

3

• Expansion Creates Problems
• Gap between rich and poor grows wider slaves
  1/3 of Pop
• Small farmers . . . Cant compete
• Many sold farms, work on estates or moved to
  Rome ? urban poor

4
The Republic Collapses

• The Brothers Gracchus
• Tiberius Gaius (tribunes) tried to help Roman
  Poor
• Proposed limit estates size ( lt 300
  acres/person) and give land to poor
• Opposed by senate threatened by ideas had
  brothers killed
• Tiberius - beat to death by senators in assembly
• Gaius - beheaded and head filled with molten lead

5
The Republic Collapses cont

• Civil War in Rome erupts following their deaths
• Change in Army
• ANY citizen . . . fight for land
• Fighting for pay . . . allegiance only to their
  general
• Loyal to general NOT the republic

6
The Republic Collapses cont

• 88 to 82 BC More Civil War
• Sulla vs. Marius generals use their troops to
  take control of Rome
• Sulla wins names himself dictator of Rome

7
Julius Caesar Takes Control

• 60 BC 1st Triumvirate
• Julius Caesar military leader
• Crassus wealthy Roman
• Pompey popular general
• Julius Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey dominate
  Rome for the next 10 years
• With their help Caesar elected Consul in 59 BC

8
Caesars Genius

• Steps down as Consul after 1 year follow
  tradition
• Goes to Gaul (France) to govern conquers the
  region
• Starts on defense grueling battles and many
  hardships
• Wrote to Rome often news of success makes him
  popular with people of Rome
• Successes bring loyalty and devotion of his
  troops

9
Conflict 49 BC/BCE

• Pompey fears Caesars ambition has senate order
  Caesar to disband troops return home
• Caesar refuses marched across the Rubicon River
  and toward Rome
• Caesars Speech to 13th Legion -
  http//www.youtube.com/watch?v5PeN1k9AAMgfeature
  related
• Pompey flees with his army and . . . defeated by
  Caesar in Greece, Asia, Spain, and Egypt

10
Caesar the Dictator

• 46 BC/BCE Caesar returns to Rome has support of
  his army and the masses
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vF7QY8Vx7ZiY
• 44 BC/BCE Caesar is named dictator for life
• Caesars reforms
• Granted more . . . Roman citizenship to conquered
  
• Expanded . . . the senate
• Helped poor by creating jobs, colonizing new
  areas, and increasing pay for soldiers

11
Death of Caesar

• Senate feared/jealous of Caesars power felt
  like losing influence and considered him to be a
  tyrant
• March 15, 44 BC Caesar killed by Marcus Brutus
  (and Gaius Cassius) in the senate chamber

12
Civil War

• Struggle for power . . . destroyed what was left
  of the Roman republic
• Octavian (Caesars Grandnephew), Mark Antony, and
  Lepidus Caesars supporters who band together
  to kill Caesars assassins
• 43BC Create second triumvirate took control of
  Rome and ruled for ten years

13
End of 2nd triumvirate

• Lepidus is forced . . . to retire by Octavian
• Antony vs. Octavian
• Antony falls in love . . . with Cleopatra, queen
  of Egypt
• Joins forces . . . with Cleopatras army
• Octavian accuses Antony . . . of plotting to rule
  Rome from Egypt
• 31 BC Battle of Actium naval battle Octavian
  vs. Antony and Cleopatra
• Octavian wins
• Antony and Cleopatra . . . commit suicide

14
Octavian

• Octavian becomes . . . unchallenged ruler of Rome
  
• Takes title Augustus exalted one and supreme
  military commander
• 27 BC Augustus begins his rule and Rome is at
  the peak of power