Chapter 7 Continued The Roman Republic 753 BC

Chapter 7 Continued: The Roman Republic 753 BC to 27 AD Mr. King J 110

The Republic Faces Problems 133 BC Rome is the most powerful state in the Mediterranean because it controls all Greek city-states and Asia Minor The Romans even call the sea “Mare Nostrum” which means “Our Sea”

Map of Roman Empire: 100 BC

Rome Becomes Poor Roman soldiers were actually farmers, merchants, and laborers when not at war Because Rome gained so much new territory, soldiers had more land to protect When soldiers did return home, they found their homes were sold by the government because they did not pay taxes

Rome Becomes Poor Another big problem existed: Jobs were hard to find because slaves were doing most of the work in Rome At this point in time, slaves actually made 1/3 of the entire Roman population Some people received money to vote for people running for office: this made the poor stay poor and the rich become even more rich

Assistance to the Poor 134 BC tribune Tiberius Gracchus gives public land to the poor and stands up for the rights of soldiers Plebeians support Gracchus, but patricians in the senate do not They start a riot and Gracchus is killed

Murder of Gracchus

Assistance to the Poor The brother of Tiberius, named Gaius, is elected tribune in 123 BC He lowers the price of grain for the poor and assists people who wish to be citizens Again senators do not approve of his behavior and oppose the reform Gaius Gracchus is killed with his followers

Gaius Gracchus

Military Leaders Gain Power Plebeians and tribunes want reform 110 BC general Marius forms an army of the poor He promises to share profits from conquering others His army has victories in North Africa and in Gaul; these soldiers are now more loyal to Marius than to Rome

Military Leaders Gain Power 88 BC general Lucius Sulla challenges Marius; the result is a civil war Thousands of people die Sulla defeats Marius and becomes dictator Law stated that dictators could only rule for 6 months at a time; Sulla changes the law so he can rule longer

The Two Generals Lucius Sulla Gaius Marius

First Triumvirate is Formed 60 BC 3 men agree to rule Rome: Crassus, a wealthy politician Pompey, a general Caesar, a general

1 st Triumvirate

Julius Caesar Pompey is scared of Caesar and makes the senate limit his power; they order him to return to Rome without his army Caesar marches his army through the Rubicon River back to Rome Caesar now has more power than Rome because people fear him and his men

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar: gives jobs to the poor, orders rich people to stop wearing extravagant items, and passes tougher laws for criminals Caesar makes the Roman calendar more accurate; this is used for the next 1500 years in Europe Caesar forgives his old enemies and hires them as government officials

Caesar’s End 44 BC senate makes Caesar a dictator for life Statues of him are all over Rome and his face is even on coins Senators fear because of his popularity with the people, he might try to become king and this would end the republic On March 15 44 BC he is assassinated in order to “save the republic”

Death of Caesar

Life After Caesar’s adopted son Octavian and two generals, Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus form the second Triumvirate They divide Rome into 3 areas: Octavian rules the west Antony rules the east Lepidus rules North Africa

The 1 st Emperor of Rome Lepidus retires as a leader which leaves Mark Antony and Octavian to fight for total control of Rome Antony forms an alliance with Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt Octavian fears these two will form their own empire so he asks the senate to take power away from Antony Octavian declares war on Antony and Cleopatra

The Aftermath Antony and Cleopatra find out about the plans of Octavian who will attack Egypt They decide to kill themselves Then in 31 BC the Romans defeat the Egyptians The Roman Republic ends in 27 BC The senate appoints Octavian the Emperor of Rome; kings rule Rome for the next 500 years

Antony and Cleopatra