6.3 The Roman Republic becomes less republican and less virtuous…

Fasces

Despite winning Punic Wars, Rome also suffered setbacks…

• Returning veterans often had to sell farms when they returned

• Latifundia• Slaves became more popular • SPARTACUS revolt put down!

73-71BC– Gathers 100,000 slaves!– Several armies fail…– 6000 Crucified

Pompey gets credit, though Crassus is real victor

A problem: Growing gap between rich and poor• Patrician corruption grew• Senators had Greek slaves run businesses• Army officers focused on triumphs to show off

booty• Exotic foods and fabrics came – pursuit of

luxury

What has happened to the idea of “gravitas”?

A new class of urban landless poor – or ___________ grew among the Punic War veterans

?Why is this a big problem?

Political rivalry settled by fighting

• Gracchus brothers• Tribune Tiberius wanted

reforms 133BC such as:– Distribute land to landless

veterans– Limit size of latifundia– Tiberius (and later

Tribune Gaius) will suffer similar fates…death by Senators!

Essay Question:

Which factor(s) or people or events should bear the greatest portion of responsibility for the end of the Roman Republic and the start of one man rule? Why?

2-3 page typed essay due Monday– 100 pts12 pt font, double spaced, 1 inch margins

Politicians break into two parties

Optimates Populares

Consul Marius (Populares Party) broke Traditions of Roman Republic

• Elected consul in 107BC, then served 6 consecutive terms, 105-100BC.

• Legionairres’ Property Qualification

• Equipment provided• Promise of booty • Allegiance to army general more than

to Roman Republic

• Created large standing professional army of proletariat class.

More traditions broken when Sulla (Optimates Party) emerged as a rival

• Early on, (91BC) together they fought Italian allies uprising in Social War– Rome gave in and gave all Italians

full Roman citizenship• Consul Sulla’s army attacked

Marius’ supporters in Rome– Tradition of no armies in city is

broken • Marius fights with gladiator army!

– Sulla defeats Marius…temporarily

SullaSurviving Bust

Marius (P) elected Consul during Sulla’s (O) absence

– Sulla left to fight in Asia– Marius returned to Rome to quell

unrest – elected consul– Marius died suddenly

Sulla returned to Rome•Sulla enticed some Marius’ men with material rewards

– Slaughtered most* Marius loyalists– * But young Julius Caesar escaped

Marius

Sulla continued to Break Roman Traditions

• Senate elected him Dictator for life– But…then left job after 4

years!

Julius Caesar was a Populares Party member• Successful patrician family• Charismatic

– Bribed Sulla’s men to spare his life– Was once captured by pirates, kept himself alive

– Good speaker– Threw lavish parties to win affections

• Appeals to poor with entertainments

• Elected supreme priest• Earns support of rich Crassus who

helps him become governor of Spain

First Triumvirate formed in 60BCE as a political alliance

• Caesar served 1 year as consul 59BC

• Meanwhile, Crassus and Pompey put down Spartacus’ revolt

• Pompey and Crassus elected as co-consuls in 70BC and later 55BC– Afterward, – Pompey returned to rank of general– Crassus… a senator

Julius Caesar

Crassus Pompey

Also called “The 3-Headed Monster”, by their enemies.

Caesar Impresses Romans with his Victories in Gaul– 10 years

– Pushed army hard– Strategically

prevented Celts from uniting their tribes

– Caesar’s army killed 1/3 of enemy

– Sent home journal: Commentaries on Gallic Wars

"Vercingetorix Throws his Arms at Caesar's Feet" by Lionel-Noel Royer, 1899.

Caesar’s popularity hurt the Triumvirate• 50 BCE - Consul Pompey and

the Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army and return

• 49BCE - Rubicon River• Pompey fled to Greece• Battle of Pharsalus – Caesar

wins• Pompey escaped but beheaded

in Egypt by 15 yr old Pharoah

Caesar elected dictator for 10yrs

• Made reforms that were popular– Expanded Senate from 600 to 900– Ordered latifundia owners to

replace 1/3 of slaves with paid proletariat workers

– Created public works projects– Established new colonies for

proletariat– Orders use of more scientific

Julian calendar

Caesar was the first Roman leader to puthis own image on coins!!

Why was Caesar assassinated March 15, 44BC?

• A threat to Roman Republic, according to Brutus and Cassius and followers

• WHY?– Had become too powerful.– Another factor: Caesar had taken

foreigner, Cleopatra as a lover/wife• had a son with her• Had made her queen in Egypt in that

province

• “E tu, Brute!” as he is stabbed.Next slide: “Death of Julius Caesar”painting by Vincenzo Camuccini.

Second Triumvirate

– Mark Antony, close friend– Octavian, his adopted son

and grandnephew– Lepidus

• Pushed assembly to grant them power over Senate– They assemble army against

Senators’ army

Roman coin bearing the portraits of Mark Antony (left) and Octavian (right). Struck in 41 BC this coin was issued to celebrate the establishment of the Second Triumvirate by Octavian, Antony and Lepidus.

Octavian and MarkAntony go after Brutus and Cassius

• The Generals’ armies face senate armies

• 100 anti-Caesarian “republican” senators and 2000 others killed in Rome

Coin commemorates the defeat of Brutus and Cassius at Battle of Philippi

2nd Triumvirate Breaks Up

• Jealousy and infighting• Antony marries Cleopatra• Antony declares Cleopatra’s

son legal heir to Julius Caesar• He divorced Octavian’s sister

• Octavian sees Antony as a traitor to Rome

• Antony and Octavian battle at sea, Antony defeated at Actium 31BC

• Antony flees to Cleopatra’s arms– They separately commit

suicide• Octavian becomes sole ruler

The battle of Actium, by Lorenzo A. Castro, 1672.

Octavian becomes Augustus• After defeating Antony and

Cleopatra, he is named “first citizen” ; he “saved” Rome!

• In 27BC, he is named Augustus – a god’s title = most exalted one– Senate continues to exist but with

no real power

• Begins 41 year rule, longest of any emperor

How did each of these people contribute to the end of the Republic ?

• Gracchus Brothers (Tiberius and Gaius)• Marius• Sulla• (1st Triumvirate)

– Julius Caesar– Pompey

• (2nd Triumvirate)– Mark Antony– Octavian

Essay Question:

Which factor(s) or people or events should bear the greatest portion of responsibility for the end of the Roman Republic and the start of one man rule? Why?

2-3 page typed essay due Monday– 100 pts12 pt font, double spaced, 1 inch margins

The thesis must present an argument.

• Can someone reasonably argue the opposite?• 1. No 3. Yes

2. Although 1, 2 because of 3.

#7. Critical Thinking: The most significant cause(s) of the end of the Republic and start of one man rule was/were…?• Veterans losing their lands

• Gap between rich and poor• Loss of virtues or good morals

• Growth of slavery• Marius and Sulla: their actions and civil war

• The First Triumvirate• Caesar crossing the Rubicon• Caesar’s war with Pompey

• Caesar declared dictator for 10 years• Octavian seeking revenge for Caesar

• Or…..

6 Tips for Writing a Thesis

• Make it debatable• Make it one sentence• Put it at the end of the introduction• Better: Include a why• Better: Include an alternative problem

w/o making it a contradiction (Although…)

• Use Key Words (UKW) from thesis in the body of paper, especially topic sentences.