Notes pt 4 (julius Caesar)

circuses”

bread (free grain from the state) and entertainment (Circus Maximus, Colosseum), partly to keep them alive, and partly to keep them quiet, distracted, and docile

Tiberius Gracchus recognized the advantages of courting the plebeians (even though he was ultimately unsuccessful)

military generals worked that angle - lead an army that conquers a land, then give them a share in the spoils

soldiers’ loyalty was to their military leader, not necessarily to Rome or the Republic

Julius Caesar         (100 - 44 BCE)

a highly successful general

he conquered the huge territory of Gaul

made common folks happy

made friends in high places

Pompey (a general who conquered Syria and Palestine)

Crassus (the richest man in Rome, one of the richest men in all history

these three men formed the First Triumvirate (“rule of three men”)

Serves as consul (one year)

Appoints himself governor of Gaul

Pompey is jealous, becomes his rival

Caesar’s armies clash with Pompey’s in Greece, Asia, Spain, and Egypt (Caesar - winning!)

In 44BC he is named dictator - first for six months, then for life

Granted citizenship to people in provinces

Expanded the Senate, adding his friends

Created jobs for the poor, especially through public works projects

Increased pay for soldiers

Started colonies where those without land could own property

Why? The senators saw Caesar’s rise in power as a huge threat to their political viability

How? They lured him into the Senate, stabbing him 23 times, making sure all were involved

Who? Even Brutus, Caesar’s ally (“et tu, Brute?”)

Senators were not punished

Octavian was named Julius Caesar’s sole heir

Basically, this is the end of the republic

Julius Caesar’s grandnephew - and adopted son - Octavian takes over at the age of 18! with his own triumvirate

Mark Antony is an experienced general

Lepidus is a powerful politician

This is the Second Triumvirate

Octavian forces the weak Lepidus to retire

He and Mark Antony become rivals

Mark Antony partners up with Cleopatra of Egypt

Militarily

Personally

Politically

Economically

Octavian defeats them at the Battle of Actium

He is now the unchallenged ruler of Rome

He was given the honorific “Augustus”

“Exalted one”

He was also given the title “imperator”

Supreme military commander

This is where we get the word “emperor”

Now Rome is an empire, not a republic

40 years of ruling as emperor (27 BC to AD 14)

He began a stable era of peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana (Roman peace)

Pax Romana was 207 years long

27 BC to AD 180

Expanded the Roman Empire further into Africa

He set up civil service to run the government/empire

Building a network of roads

Collecting taxes

Establishing a postal service

Administering the grain supply

Building awesome public facilities

Buildings, aqueducts

Setting up a police department

Running a fire-fighting organization

Finally died of natural causes

After Octavian’s death, power was passed down to emperors

Some were good, some were horrible, some appeared to be completely insane

Let’s review some of the emperors…

Tiberius

Ruled from AD 14 to AD 37

an excellent general, but a reluctant emperor

after the death of his son, he exiled himself from Rome and left his prefects in charge

died at age 77

Caligula

Ruled from AD 37 to AD 41 (only 4 years!)

won a power struggle after Tiberius' death

known for his cruelty, extravagance, and perversity - an insane tyrant

assassinated by a group of praetorian guards, Senators, and the im

perial court, trying to re-establish the Republic

but it didn't work…

Claudius

Ruled from AD 41 to AD 54

suffered from many infirmities: a limp, stammering, shaking, slobbering... possibly because of cerebral palsy

took over because he was the last adult male in the family

ruled well - built roads, aqueducts, canals, and started the conquest of Britain

died by poisoning - it was his last wife's plan (she wanted her son Nero to rise to power)

Nero

ruled from 54 to 68

emphasized the arts

huge fire in 64 (although he DIDN'T fiddle)

he wanted to rebuild Rome to be more majestic

he hugely overspent, and even raided the temples for money

historians do not look kindly on him