The Failure of the Republic

• As Rome expanded, the social and economic bases of the Roman republic in Italy were undermined

• While men from independent farming families were forced to devote their time to military service, large landowners bought up their land to were forced to devote their time to military service, large landowners bought up their land to create great estates called latifundia.

• This meant both a decline in Rome’s source of soldiers and a decline in food production

• latifundia owners preferred to grow cash crops like grapes rather than staple crops such as wheat.

• Since slave labor was cheap in an expanding empire, Italian peasants, were driven off the land and not employed by the latifundiathe latifundia

• They drifted into the cities where they formed a fractious unemployed underclass.

• The independent farming family -- that had been the traditional source of soldiers -- disappeared

• Roman commanders would have to build their armies from men from the underclass who armies from men from the underclass who tended to give their loyalty, not to the Roman state, but to their commander

• This led to generals taking control of politics, to civil wars, and finally to the end of the republican system of government.

Rule of Emperors• Julius Caesar’s

grandnephew Octavian (also known as Augustus) took power in 31 b.c.e., reorganized the Roman government, and ruled as a military dictator

• After Augustus died, • After Augustus died, several members of his family succeeded him.

• However, the position of emperor was not necessarily hereditary; in the end, armies chose emperors

Caesar Augustus

• 63 BCE-14 CE• Octavian was winner of 18 years

civil war• Designated heir of Julius Caesar• Designated heir of Julius Caesar• Was of the family of Caesar

(adopted) so he took the name Caesar

• Given the name Augustus by the Senate

Caesar Augustus

• Beginning the Empire– Marked by the reign of Octavian– Returned to principles of the republic (in theory)– But, created important changes to make it work

• Senate received power of nominal governing• Senate received power of nominal governing• Allowed free elections• Accepted title “princeps civitatis” or first citizen ("prince")

– Initially offered to retire to private life• Held a variety of jobs but ruled effectively regardless of

position– Auctoritas = prestige, power from trust, influence– Who else has had this kind of power?– How does a leader get this kind of power?

Caesar Augustus

• Beginning the Empire– Augustinian Code

• Roman Law was rewritten and solidified

• Basis of western laws today• Equity• Equity

– Honest government– Added to the road system

• 53,000 miles of paved roads

– Postal system and other city infrastructure

– Standard currency system– Improved harbors

Caesar Augustus

• Military– Reduced the size but

created a permanent army– Territorial expansion

• Purpose: to consolidate • Purpose: to consolidate boundaries, ensure peace

• Generalship given to loyalists—Agrippa and Tiberius• German defeat/consolidation (Herman the German)• Central Europe and the Balkans expansion• Spain consolidation• Africa, annexation of Egypt

– Pax Romana• 60 million people in peace for more than 400 years

Caesar Augustus

• Succession –No male heir–Adopted nephew, Tiberius–Smooth transition of leadership–Smooth transition of leadership–Stable leadership despite inept

emperors• Tiberius took the title "emperor" and

all successors did the same• Succession was a problem for the

entire time of the empire

Principal Roman Emperors

Julio-Claudians

• Emperors who succeeded Caesar for 50 years• Tiberius

– Ruled well if somewhat ineffective– Retired due to opposition

• Caligula– Insane– Insane– Killed by troops

• Claudius– Good administrator– Uncomfortable around people (lame and stuttered)

• Nero– Mother killed Claudius for Nero– Nero killed his mother– Seneca and Burrus (advisors, died from Nero pressure)– Revolt and burning of the city– Committed suicide

Flavians

• 69-96 AD• Vespasian, Titus, Domitian

–Reasonably good administratorsadministrators

–First non-Patrician Caesar• Suppression of the Jewish

revolt–Destruction of Jerusalem–Masada–Timing—70 AD

Age of the Adoptive Emperors

• 96-193 AD• The Golden Age of Rome• 5 good and 1 bad emperor

– Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pous, – Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pous, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus

– None were power hungry except Commodus• Façade of constitutionality• Hadrian separated the civil services from the army

– Army changed from greater mobility to maintenance

• A map of the expansion of the Roman Empire from Augustus to Hadrian, 31 B.C. to 138 A.D. Between 268 and 31 B.C., all of the land that bordered the Mediterranean had come under Roman control. During the first hundred years of the empire, most of Rome’s expansion was to the north and east, with very little territory added after that time

PaxPax RomanaRomana: : 27 BCE 27 BCE –– 180 CE180 CEPaxPax RomanaRomana: : 27 BCE 27 BCE –– 180 CE180 CE

Augustus

• Created a peaceful empire (Pax Romana)

• Concentrated on building the empire from within…from within…– Adjusted taxes

– Public works

• Lack of corruption

• Encouraged large Roman families

Roman Trade

The Golden Age (100-180AD)

• Life in the Golden Age– Rome was largest city in

the ancient world– Extravagant

entertainmententertainment– Prosperity through trade

and population expansion

• After the Golden Age– Good and bad emperors

• Unsuited for governance• Many boy emperors

Gla

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Spartacus(Kirk Douglas)

Gladiator(Russell Crowe)