Transcript
Page 1: Decline of the Republic…Rise of the Empire

Decline of the Republic…Rise of the Empire

Ancient RomeMr. Blais

Page 2: Decline of the Republic…Rise of the Empire

Slave Revolt• While the Roman govt was in

disarray one of the worst slave revolts in Roman history happened in 73 B.C.E.

• It was led by a gladiator (slave who fought for public entertainment) named Spartacus

• He escaped from his training facility and began rallying slaves across the Roman world to his cause.

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Slave Revolt (cont.)• Within a year Spartacus had an

army of 100,000.• His army ravaged Italy for two

years and defeated a least four major Roman generals and their armies.

• Finally in 71 B.C.E. Marcus Licinius Crassus was given command of the army and crushed the revolt in 6 months.

• Approximately 6,000 of the rebels were crucified along the main road to Rome as a warning to all who dared challenge Rome.

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Marcus Licinius Crassus• After putting down the slave

revolt Crassus was elected consul of Rome in 70 B.C.E.

• He shared power with a good friend Pompey

• Crassus was a skilled military commander and was a very wealthy man who made his money dealing in slaves and making sound investments.

• He would later become the money behind the throne of later the Republican govt

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Gneius Pompeius Magnus• Better known as Pompey or

Pompey the Great he was elected consul in 70 B.C.E.

• Pompey had led a military life, fighting in earlier civil wars

• He later became a household name in Rome with his victory over Mithradates of Pontus (A major foe in the east)

• Thus gaining many new provinces for Rome throughout modern Turkey and Syria

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Gaius Julius Caesar• Caesar was born to a noble

Roman family in 100 B.C.E.• At about age 18 he left Rome

(due to political turmoil) and joined the army in the east.

• He spent his early years their fighting Rome’s enemies and getting an education.

• Using his new found skills in military and political matters Caesar became the financial officer of Spain in 68 B.C.E.

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Gaius Julius Caesar (cont.)• Caesar married Pompeia (cousin

of Pompey) in 68 B.C.E., thus beginning their important friendship.

• Caesar spent about 6 years in Spain putting down rebels, reorganizing the govt., and sending large sums of money to the treasury of Rome.

• Both Caesar and Pompey returned to Rome around 61 B.C.E. as well known and popular political figures.

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The First Triumvirate• Caesar, though hated by the

Senate, had the support of the people

• Pompey, a good friend and wife to Caesar’s daughter Julia, had support of the army.

• With Crassus’ money these three men created a political alliance to gain greater wealth and power for each of them

• This culminated in Caesar’s election as consul in 59 B.C.E.

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59 B.C.E.• As consul Caesar now had the

ability to push his own agenda.

• He reworked the Agrarian Laws and distributed large tracts of land to the common people, particularly Pompey’s veterans

• By 58 B.C.E. the Senate made him governor of Gaul, mostly in an effort to get Caesar out of Rome

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Caesar’s Murder• Caesar was murdered on

March 15, 44 B.C.E.• His murder was led and

organized by Gaius Cassius and Marcus Brutus

• Cassius hated Caesar and Brutus hated tyranny

• Caesar’s death led to chaos and riots across Rome, the conspirators were forced to flee the city and much of their property was destroyed.

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Solidifying Power• Caesar’s named heir was Gaius

Octavius (his 19 year old nephew)

• Octavius allied with Marc Antony (Caesar’s most trusted general) in a war against Caesar’s murderers

• In November, 42 B.C.E. the two armies met. Cassius and Brutus were each separately defeated by Antony and Octavius.

• The Republic had now officially fallen!

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East and West• Antony and Octavius now

divided the empire, Octavius in the west and Antony in the east

• Over the next ten years they each solidified their power in their realms and Antony formed an alliance with Cleopatra of Egypt.

• Octavius would use this political alliance to destroy Antony’s character in Rome and as justification to go to war with Antony.

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Rise of the Empire• Antony and Cleopatra met

Octavius in the naval battle of Actium (31 B.C.E).

• Octavius’ forces won the battle and Antony and Cleopatra retreated to Egypt.

• Over the next year Octavius’ armies slowly took the eastern provinces back from Antony.

• This all culminated in the suicides of Antony and Cleopatra in 30 B.C.E. giving Octavius full control of the Roman Empire