Roman Empire

http://www.zonu.com/detail-en/2009-12-09-11387/Expansion-of-Rome-2nd-century-BC.html

Expansion

• Rome’s expansion led to some problems• People became greedy and forgot the

values that made them strong• Many slaves from conquered peoples

were sent to Rome

• The rich could afford to buy them and expand the land they used – including public lands

• Small family farms could not compete with the large estates

• Many people sold their small farms and moved to the city

• The cities had a growing landless poor population

Closure # 1

• What effect did expansion have on Rome?

Reforms

• Some powerful people were concerned over the plight of the small farmers

• Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (brothers) tried

• They proposed taking back public lands and giving it to small farmers and lowering the price of food to help the plebeians.

• The wealthy and powerful were angry over this – because they would loose money and land

• They conspired to have the brothers murdered

• Their attempt at reforms brought in an era of instability

Closure #2

• What were the reforms meant to do?

Army Changes

• The backbone of the Roman Army had always been small farmers

• Since their numbers were declining, a Roman general came up with a new way

• Marius recruited soldiers from the cities, promising land for service

• Marius had volunteers swear an oath of loyalty to the general, not the state

• In order to get the Senate to authorize the giving of land the Generals had to become involved in politics.

• These changes left a powerful legacy• With soldiers loyal to a specific general,

the Army would be the basis of power from now on.

• Example – Sulla 82 BC

Closure #3

• Why do American troops swear to uphold the Constitution and defend the United States?

From Republic to Empire

• For the next 50 years Rome was torn apart by civil wars.

• One general, Julius Caesar, defeated all the others and took power

• He made changes to the government• He was made dictator (absolute ruler) in

45 BC. This was usually a temporary position

• The Senators feared that he would keep the position for life, so they murdered him on the Senate floor.

• Another round of civil wars resulted.• The victor, Octavian, was Caesar’s

grandnephew and heir (the person who inherits your stuff)

• Even though he kept the Senate, he held all the real power

• In 27 BC he was given the title Augustus (the revered one)

• Augustus becomes the first Roman Emperor

• After so much war the people are happy to have a stable government, even if it is a dictator.

Closure #4

• How did Rome go from a Republic to an Empire?

Pax Romana 27 BC – 180 AD

• The next four Emperors were from Augustus line

• (Caligula)• (If you are interested in this time period I

recommend a movie called I Claudius)• After the last of Augustus line died/was

killed (69 BC), another round of civil wars followed

• This was part of the problem with their system of government, if your power is based on the Army, you have to make sure you have a good man take your place

• Around 100 AD, a series of five good emperors began.

• These included Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius

• They made good choices, expanded the empire, selected good heirs, were tolerant of others

• The time period starting with Augustus and lasting through the five good emperors was known as the Pax Romana or Roman peace.

• It was a period stable government and relative peace.

Closure #5

• Why did the Pax Romana last so long?

Height of the Roman Empire