From Republic to Empire5.2

Objectives

• Understand how the Roman Republic grew through a series of conquests.

• Identify events leading to the decline of the Roman republic

Rome Grows Through Conquest• Roman growth on the Italian peninsula brings

it into contact with Carthage. • Conflict between these two powers is referred

to as the Punic Wars.• Punicus = Phoenician

The Second Punic War (218-202 BC)• How did it start?• Hannibal attacks over the Alps losing half of his men and

2/3rds of his elephants• Battle of Cannae: Hannibal captured or killed up to 70,000

Roman troops– For 10 years no Roman General would engage him in a large battle– Romans scorched earth.

• Publius Cornelius Scipio– 204 BC Scipio lands in Africa after conquering the Punic Empire in

Spain

The 3rd Punic War 146 BC

• Rome decided to eliminate Carthage once and for all (Cato the Elder) "Carthago delenda est!" – They violated the terms of their treaty by

crossing a Roman imposed frontier in 149 BC• After a three year siege they completely

wipe out Carthage in 146 BC• By 133 BC Rome controls all of the

Mediterranean– Macedonia, Asia Minor, Africa, Spain

Outcome?

• How does the term imperialism apply to this quote? “The Carthaginians fought for their own preservation and the sovereignty of Africa…the Romans, for supremacy and world domination.”

Consequences of Expansion

Consequences of Expansion

Negative– Too much new territory would be hard to rule.

Why?– Latifundia • Most lower classes forced to sell farms to the rich

– Division in wealth leads to social problems• (1% of population owned 20% of all wealth, next 10%

of pop. Controlled another 20% of all wealth)

– GREED

Decline of the Republic

– Rome now ruled by greed and dominated by the very rich over the poor masses.

– Who will step up to help the poor?

The Gracchus Brothers

• Plebian brothers who became Tribunes and attempted to reform the late Republic

• Attempt to have the riches acquired in Roman conquest shared equally.

• Outcome? Why?

• *

The First Triumvirate

• Pompey, Crassus and Caesar

The Rise Julius Caesar ¨ Personal legions now common for rich/powerful¨ Elected Consul in 59 BCE, conquers Gaulby 50

BCE JC had 13 legions• After the death of Crassus in 53 BCE, Pompey

(now sole Consul) began working against JC in Rome

• When he crossed the Rubicon River in 49 BCE he began a civil war against Pompey’s army

• By 45 BC Caesar is victorious and ruled Rome as dictator for life.

The Reforms of Julius Caesar

• Absolute Rule• Relocated 80,000 poor, gave poor conquered

land• Increased Senate to 900. • Extended citizenship

The Death of Julius Caesar• March 15, 44 BC JC was assassinated by the

Senate (Cassius and Brutus)– They had no real plan 13 years of civil war that

will lead to the end of the Republic

The Second Triumvirate• Who? Mark Antony, Octavian and Lepidus• What? No real plan, split Republic 3 ways.

Problems?– Lepidus (Africa)– Antony (East)– Octavian (West)

Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra, becomes master of all Rome “Augustus”.

Augustus

• Octavian takes over and is proclaimed Augustus “the revered one” by Senate. 27 BCE– Stabilizes government– Census

• After the death of Augustus, series of Good [Hadrian] and Bad Emperors [Caligula and Nero]

Societal Problems

Unequal distribution of

wealth

Massive Poverty and social issues

Empire led to political apathy

Food Distribution

Boredom/Anger

Bread and Circuses

Roman Society• Slavery was widespread (up to 30% of population),

esp. in urban areas. • Public Programs:– Façade of grandeur masked real problems– “Bread and Circuses”