Chapter 6Section 2

Setting the Stage

• The growth brought political, economic, and social changes

The Problem with Expansion

• The most serious was the widening gap between the rich and the poor

The Problem with Expansion

• The slave population made 1/3 of Rome’s population

• These slaves were forced to work on the latifundia

The Problem with Expansion

• Some could not afford to repair the damages caused by Hannibal’s army, so they sold out to the wealthy land owners

• Many of the small farmers were soldiers returning home only to become homeless and jobless

Republic Collapse

• These soldiers fought for pay and owed allegiance only to the generals

Julius Caesar

• They formed a triumvirate, a three person government

Julius Caesar

• When this news reached Rome, it made Caesar very popular with the people

Julius Caesar

• Caesar governed as absolute ruler• Created many changes that gained him

popularity

• Many viewed him as a tyrant, and he was assassinated in 44 B.C.

• Consisted of Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus

• These three avenged the death of Caesar• They ruled for ten years

2nd Triumvirate

2nd Triumvirate

• Mark Antony leaves for Egypt and falls in love with Cleopatra

• Octavian accepts the title of Augustus, (the exalted one)

Pax Romana

• Pax Romana translates to Roman peace

• The empire included more than 3 million square miles

Economy

• Based on agriculture and trade

• 90 percent of the people were farmers

A Huge Empire

• The border of Rome measured more than 10,000 square mile

• It included Spain, Mesopotamia, North Africa, and Britain

A Sound Government

• He spread the empire, and stabilized the frontier