The Roman Empire Brings Change

Chapter 6.2

Rome grew rapidly, and growth brought political, economic, and social changes. Some leaders attempted reforms, but the republican

government was unable to deal with the problems caused by these changes.

Expansion Creates Problems in the Republic

• The Punic Wars and Rome’s increasing wealth and expanding empire brought many problems.

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

• While wealthy Romans became corrupted by money and luxury, discontent arose among the slaves.

• Resentment also grew among the poor. • Class tensions planted the seeds of the republic’s

collapse.

The Republic Collapses

• Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (GRAK•us), attempted to help Rome’s poor.

• Both were strongly opposed and were violently murdered.

• A period of civil war, or conflict between groups within the same country, followed their deaths.

• Military leaders began building their personal armies and their political ambitions.

• Two such generals were Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla.

• Sulla was crowned dictator, but a new leader was on the horizon.

Julius Caesar Takes Control

• In 60 B.C., Julius Caesar joined forces with Crassus, a wealthy Roman, and Pompey, a popular general.

• Caesar was elected consul in 59 B.C.• For the next ten years, these men dominated

Rome as a triumvirate, a group of three rulers.

• As tradition dictated, Caesar served as consul for his 1 year term.

• During 58–50 B.C., Caesar led his legions in a grueling but successful campaign to conquer all of Gaul.

• His conquests made him popular with the people, which made Roman leaders nervous.

• The senate appointed him dictator in 44 B.C.• He was named dictator for life.

• Caesar governed as an absolute ruler, one who has total power.

• He made sweeping changes including:– Granted citizenship to many.– Expanded the senate– Helped the poor by creating jobs.– Many nobles and senators were troubled by Caesar’s

growing power, success, and popularity.– They plotted his murder.

Et tu, Brute?

In 44 B.C, on March 15 (known toRomans as the Ides of March),Caesar prepared to go to speak tothe Senate, unaware that importantsenators plotted his death.According to legend, his wife,Calpurnia, begged him not to go.She said she had seen him in adream dying in her arms of stabwounds. He earlier had beenwarned of danger by a soothsayer(fortune teller).When Caesar arrived at theSenate chamber, he sat in his chair.Soon the plotters encircled him,took knives hidden in their togas,and stabbed him 23 times. Theywere led by Gaius Cassius andCaesar’s friend Marcus Brutus.Caesar’s last words were “Et tu,Brute?” (“You, too, Brutus?”)

All future Romanemperors would takethe name “Caesar” asa title, and the wordwould be adopted inother languages:kaiser (German) andczar (Russian).

Why didCaesar’s rivals feelthey had to kill him?

• After Caesar’s death, civil war broke out again.• Caesar’s followers, including his adopted son

Octavian, avenged his death.• Octavian, army general Mark Antony, and

politician Lepidus took control of Rome and ruled as the Second Triumvirate.

• The Second Triumvirate ended in jealousy and violence.

• Octavian came out on top.• He promised to restore the republic and had some

success.• However, he eventually accepted the title of

Augustus, or “exalted one” and imperator, from which the word emperor is derived.

• Rome was now an empire ruled by one man.

Augustus was the most powerfulruler of the mightiest empire of theancient world. Yet, amid the pompof imperial Rome, he lived a simpleand frugal life. His home wasmodest by Roman standards. Hisfavorite meal consisted of coarsebread, a few sardines, and a pieceof cheese—the usual food of acommon laborer.

Augustus was also a veryreligious and family-oriented man.He held to a strict moral code. Hehad his only child, Julia, exiled fromRome for not being faithful in hermarriage.As he neared death, he gatheredhis family, including Livia, his wife of52 years, to his bedside. He askedthem if he had done well in life.When they replied that he had,Augustus said, “Since well I’veplayed my part, then, gentle people,pray applaud, and send me withyour thanks on my way.”

Augustus63 B.C.–A.D. 14

A Vast and Powerful Empire

• Augustus ruled during a period known as Pax Romana, or Roman Peace.

• During this time, the Roman Empire included more than 3 million square miles.

• Its population numbered between 60 and 80 million people.

• About 1 million people lived in the city of Rome itself.

An Economy Based on Agriculture and Trade

• Agriculture was the most important industry in the empire.

• 90% of the people engaged in farming.• Rome also had a vast trading network.• A complex network of roads linked the empire

to Persia and southern Russia.• The Silk Roads linked Rome to Asia

A Sound Government• Augustus was Rome’s ablest emperor. • He:

– stabilized the frontier – glorified Rome with splendid public buildings– created a system of government that survived for

centuries.– He set up civil service

• He paid workers to manage the affairs of government, such as the grain supply, tax collection, and the postal system.

• After Augustus died in A.D. 14, the senate chose his adopted son Tiberius as his successor.

The Emperor’s and Succession

• Rome’s peace and prosperity depended upon the orderly transfer of power.

• Because Rome had no written law for selecting a new emperor, a crisis or a civil war was always a possibility when an emperor died.

• Rome had some good ones some bad ones.

The Good…

The Bad…

Caligula

Nero

Caligula 37–41• Mentallydisturbed•Assassinatedafter short,brutal reign

Nero 54–68• Good administrator,

but vicious• Murdered many

• PersecutedChristians

• CommittedsuicideDomitian 81–96

• Ruled dictatorially• Feared treasoneverywhere andexecuted many• Assassinated

The Ugly

I’m Ugly

Life in Imperial Rome

• Rome emphasized importance of discipline, strength, and loyalty.

• Gravitas:– Strength over beauty– Power over grace– Usefulness over elegance

Men and Women

• The heart of Roman society was the family.• The eldest man was head of the family.• The paterfamilias• He had authority over all family matters:

– Disown newborn chillins– Banish family members– Sell family members into slavery

Women• Women, both rich and poor, had become nearly the social

equals of men.• However, they could not vote.

Children•Romans favored boys over girls.

•Girls were not even given names; given feminine form of father’s name: ex. Augustinia

•Few attended school, and those were boys.

•Girls married early, between 12-15, and to much older men.

•Poor children worked

Slaves and Captivity

• Slaves were a significant part of Roman life.• Estimated 1/3 of population were slaves.• Most were conquered peoples• Many were treated cruelly and labored long

hours.• Some were forced into being gladiators, or

professional fighters who fought to the death in public contests.

Heyyyyy, I’m walkin’

here….

Gods and Goddesses

• Earliest Romans worshipped the numina, that resided in everything around them.

• That is, until they met the Greeks.

Bread and Circuses-Food and Entertainment

• By the time of the empire, wealth and social status had made huge differences in how people lived.

• The wealthy lived extravagantly• Most people in Rome barely had the necessities of

life.• To control the masses, the government provided

many distractions.• By 250 A.D., there were 150 holidays a year.