Fall of the Roman Republic

World History - Libertyville HS

The Punic Wars• First Punic War – takeaway?

• Second Punic War – takeaway?

• Third Punic War – takeaway?

• Overall, how did the Punic Wars reflect or reinforce your understanding of the character of the Roman people?

Post Punic War Roman Republic• Divisions of Citizens

– Patricians & Equestrians• Patricians & Equestrians held

highest offices, ruled the state– City population (Plebeian)

• Many unemployed; lived on charity and bribes of office holders

• Passed the time attending shows given by the state, rich people

– Country farmers (Plebeian)• Peasants, who used to be

independent farmers• They lost their lands to rich

creditors

Post Punic War Roman Republic

• Divisions of the People– Subject population of

Italy: allies who had no political rights, vote or power

– Subjects outside Italy (Sicily, Spain)• No power• Duty to pay tribute

– Slaves: no rights – just service (POWs)

Problems with the Republic• #1: Great mass of

people had no political rights

• #2: Voting could only take place in city of Rome (inefficient)

• #3: Decay of Patriotism– Aristocratic classes

were out for themselves– Used state power for

their own gain

Attempts to Reform System• Gracchus Brothers– Tiberius and Gaius,

each elected Tribune (T in 133 BC, G in 122 BC)

– Attempted land reform, extend citizenship to all of Italy

• Reaction of Patricians?– Assassinate each

brother, in turn

Attempts to Reform Republic

• Lesson from the Gracchus brothers?– Violence became acceptable tool of statecraft

(respect for law declined, esp. amongst rich)

– Civil war (87-82 BC) between Patricians, Plebeians occurred: Patricians won

– Potential political power of plebeians remained an untapped force (popularity = votes! = government control)

Julius Caesar• Very astute politician– Patrician, but saw that

political power rested with the people

– Fantastic speaker and brilliant general

• Realized that to take over Republic, one needed three things– Money – Popularity w/ masses

Support of Army

Julius Caesar• Persuaded Crassus, the

richest man in Rome, and Pompey, Rome’s most successful general, to join him in taking over the Republic = First Triumverate

• What did each man get?– Pompey: recognition of

troops– Crassus: more money!– Caesar: military

command

First Triumverate

• Caesar knew that the way to political power was through military success – Army gave general military

power base (loyal troops)– Army gave general wealth

(share of loot from conquests)

– Successful army gave general public popularity, prestige with the masses

Caesar, in Gaul• Caesar needed to

achieve military success• But goal was political –

NOT military – power– Needed to conquer

somewhere close to Rome– Appearance of threat to

Rome so he could “save” the state

• Chose Gaul (France)– Caesar / army conquered

all of France, Belgium – Invaded Britain twice

Caesar, in Gaul• What happened in conquered

territories?– Caesar allowed self-government

of surviving tribes (Client states)

– Gauls saw advantages of adopting Roman customs, way of life; protection of armies

– “Romanization”: assimilation of outsiders into Roman system

– Settlers, colonists followed Caesar’s armies and settled, further “Romanizing” the area

• Caesar aggressively marketed his success to Roman people (“Commentaries”)

End of First Triumverate• Meanwhile, what were 1st

Triumverate members doing?– Caesar fighting in Gaul– Pompey got jealous of Caesar– Crassus got himself killed,

trying to lead an army• Pompey got Senate to

declare Caesar an “enemy of the state”

• Demanded he give up his army and return to Rome for trial & certain death

• Why? Afraid of his power, popularity

Overthrowing the Republic• 49 BC: Caesar decided

to “Cross the Rubicon”– Traditionally, no armies

allowed in Italy unless under control of Senate (avoids military takeover)

– Rubicon river = N. border– Thus, “crossing the

Rubicon” meant someone committing an irreversible course of action

• Result? Civil War!

Overthrowing the Republic• Pompey vs. Caesar

– Caesar & Pompey fight; C wins (had him assassinated)

• Caesar’s dictatorship– Very swift campaign against

Parthians (revenge for Crassus’ death)• “Veni, vedi, vici” (I came, I saw, I

conquered)• 46 BC: Returned to Rome

where Senate appointed him dictator for 10 years– Elevated Caesar above laws,

constitution• 44 BC: appointed dictator

for life

Dictator Caesar & His Fall• Caesar instituted reforms

aimed at improving common man’s life

• Many patrician Romans hated & resented Caesar’s assumption of power

• March 15, 44 BC– Group of senators

assassinate Caesar, in Senate

– “Et Tu Brute?” - last words (ID friend as conspirator)