Lesson 2 From Republic to Empire Page 133 in your

Transcript:Lesson 2 From Republic to Empire Page 133 in your:
Lesson 2 From Republic to Empire Page 133 in your textbook Decline of the Republic 2nd century BC: Senate was the real governing body of Rome Members of Senate were upper class patricians, aristocratic. The Senate directed the Punic wars and took control of foreign, domestic, and financial policy. These aristocrats represented only a tiny minority of Roman people. Small farmers were the majority, and they were losing their lands to the upper class. Small farmers drifted to the cities, forming a large class of landless poor. Attempts at Reform Some upperclassmen tried to fix this problem. Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, brothers, believed the cause of Rome’s problems was the decline of the small farmer. To help the poor, they had the council pass land reform bills that had the government give back public land (owned by the wealthy) back to the landless poor. 133 BC: Tiberius and Gaius were killed by a group of angry senators. This lead to more instability and violence. End of the Republic From 82 BC to 31 BC, Roman history was characterized by competition and civil war. Three powerful men came to hold enormous military and political power: 1. Crassus 2. Pompey 3. Julius Caesar All three had significant military experience They joined in 60 BC to form the first triumvrate Triumvrate: a government by three people with equal power. The First Triumvrate The wealth and power of these three men combined was huge, and allowed them to dominate Roman politics and achieve their aims. Pompey received military command in Spain Crassus was given command in Syria. Was killed in battle in 53 BC. Caesar was granted special military command in Gaul, modern day France. Caesar in Gaul Julius Caesar (100 BC – 44 BC) During his time in Gaul, Caesar gained fame and military experience. Caesar was always willing to face great danger. Now had a powerful army of veterans loyal to him. Fearing Caesar’s popularity, leading senators decided that Pompey should rule alone. They voted that Caesar lay down his command and return to Rome as a private citizen. This was unacceptable to Caesar, as it would have left him vulnerable to his enemies Caesar chose to keep his army and moved into Italy by illegally crossing the Rubicon river (southern boundary of his province) Caesar marched on Rome, starting a civil war between his forces and those of Pompey. After defeating