Roman Empire
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
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