The Fall of the Roman Republic

Key Issues Leading to the Fall

• Victorious Armies & Domestic Problems:

  • Rome's military successes contrasted with internal issues.
  • Dishonest officials and economic disparity increased.
  • Overcrowding and danger in cities.
  • Patricians, or rich landowners, controlled the government.

• Economic Strains:

  • Use of enslaved prisoners as labor undercut small farmers.
  • Many farmers were ruined due to war and competition.
  • Small farmers sold land due to debts and moved to cities.
  • Enslaved people occupied most jobs; free men faced low wages.

Political Manipulation & Social Changes

• Bread and Circuses:

  • Politicians used free food and entertainment to gain support from the poor.
  • This policy allowed corrupt rulers to gain power.

• Military Influence in Politics:

  • Marius, as consul in 107 BC, recruited soldiers from the poor.
  • Paid soldiers wages and promised land, leading to loyalty shifts.
  • Rival generals like Sulla leveraged military support for political power.

Rise and Fall of Key Figures

• Sulla's Dictatorship (82 BC):

  • Made himself dictator, weakened the Council of Plebs, strengthened the Senate.
  • Stepped down hoping for restoration, but civil wars ensued.

• First Triumvirate (60 BC):

  • Consisted of Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar.
  • Each controlled different regions: Pompey in Spain, Crassus in Syria, Caesar in Gaul.

Julius Caesar's Ascendancy

• Military Success:

  • Caesar became a hero in Rome by conquering Gaul and invading Britain.
  • His popularity concerned the Senate.

• Civil War:

  • Caesar defied the Senate's order to surrender his army, crossing the Rubicon in 49 BC.
  • Defeated Pompey's forces and declared himself dictator for life in 44 BC.

• Reforms and Policies:

  • Granted citizenship, created colonies, initiated job programs.
  • Implemented policies favoring the poor, gaining their support.

Assassination and Aftermath

• Caesar's Death:
  • Fears of Caesar becoming a king led to his assassination by Senators Brutus and Cassius on March 15, 44 BC.
  • His death led to further civil wars and the eventual decline of the Republic.

Questions

1. What is a latifundia?

   • Large farming estates owned by wealthy Romans, often worked by enslaved people.

2. What change did Marius make to the Roman army?

   • Recruited soldiers from the poor, offering wages and land, changing soldier loyalty from state to generals.

3. What is a triumvirate?

   • A political regime dominated by three powerful individuals.

4. Why was Julius Caesar popular with the poor?

   • Implemented policies that provided land and jobs for the landless and poor, and reformed Rome's government in their favor.

5. Why did Brutus, Cassius, and others kill Julius Caesar?

   • They feared he aimed to become king and dissolve the Republic.