Key Terms – The Later Roman Empire

1. Octavian/Augustus Caesar Marc Antony Lepidus Triumvirate Pax Romana Aqueducts Key Terms – The Later Roman Empire • Proletariat • The Twelve Tables • The Gracchi Brothers • Marius • Sulla • Pompey • Crassus the Rich • Julius Caesar • Brutus and Cassius

2. Post Punic Wars • Several areas of Italy laid in ruins upon the end of the Punic Wars • Many soldiers lost their land due to damages and unpaid taxes • Many of these soldiers sought work on the lands of the wealthy • Slaves had taken up many of the jobs that the soldiers sought • These soldiers would surround Rome and threaten its citizens → this group would become the lowest class in Rome, the proletariat.

3. The Twelve Tables • To ensure the rights of the lower classes, the Senate codified its laws. • These codified laws became known as the Twelve Tables. • The Twelve Tables allowed intermarriage between the classes and opened up jobs for the lower classes

4. The Gracchi Brothers • Two tribunes attempted to bring equality and reform to the lower classes. • Tiberius Gracchus → attempted to bring land reform to the lower classes through a land distribution system, would be killed for his attempts to continue his tribunate. • Gaius Gracchus → would attempt to continue the reforms of his brother and would share the same fate. • Marked the first time the Roman government used violence against its officials.

5. Marius • Marius → Roman general who served during the Punic Wars. • Would privatize his army by offering them more money for conquest of territory. • Would use his army to control Rome and have himself elected consul seven times.

6. Sulla • Sulla → general during the Numidian campaigns who followed Marius' example. • Would fight with Marius over control of Rome with his own private army. • Would become dictator for life and then resign.

7. Pompey • Pompey → military officer who used difficult situations in Rome to acquire power for himself. • Could not gain the power he wanted in Rome unless he associated with more upstanding individuals. • Would work closely with Crassus and Caesar.

8. Crassus the Rich • Crassus the Rich → wealthy landowner who sought to acquire power in Rome • Lacked any military experience (prestige) to be able to acquire any major positions in Rome. • Would have to unite with someone who had already been in politics to acquire power.

9. Julius Caesar • Julius Caesar → military general and orator who became consul but fell into disrepute. • Needed someone to back his actions in Rome with military force. • Would unite with Crassus and Pompey to reach his career goals.

10. The First Triumvirate • Triumvirate → rule by three individuals at once. • Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey united to acquire what they wanted from the Roman government. • Pompey could get his actions ratified by Caesar; Caesar could back his actions with the military force from Pompey; Crassus could use both Caesar and Pompey to acquire military experience. • Upon the death of Crassus, the triumvirate would dissolve leaving Pompey and Casear to fight amongst each other.

11. Caesar and Pompey • Pompey would attempt to sway the Senate against Caesar to acquire more power for himself. • Caesar was out campaigning in Gaul attempting to acquire more territory for the Romans. • Caesar would be asked to return to Rome without his troops and surrender. • Caesar would refuse and march on Rome and take over the city → Pompey would fight Caesar then flee to Egypt where he would be killed.

12. The Rise and Fall of Julius Caesar • Julius Caesar would become the one and only ruler of Rome and would be declared dictator for life. • Shortly afterward, he would be assassinated by Brutus and Cassius on March 15, 44 B.C.

13. The Second Triumvirate - Three new Romans would compete over control of Rome and would ultimately work together. - Marc Antony → general under Julius Caesar, believed he would inherit his powers - Lepidus → Roman officer who sought to acquire more power by working with Octavian and Antony - Octavian → Caesar's grand-nephew, inherited Caesar's power.

14. The Triumvirate Breaks Down - Lepidus would attempt to take power away from Octavian and would ultimately be forced into exile by him. - Antony would build his own empire in the East and would enter into relations with Cleopatra in Egypt; would be declared enemy of the state as a result. - Octavian would defeat Antony in the Battle of Actium and acquire sole possession of Caesar's powers. - Would be given the title of Augustus which means “first citizen”

15. Augustus' Reforms - Augustus would reign as emperor until the age of 76. - In his time as emperor, he would launch many reforms: - built aqueducts → bridge-like structures that carried water from the mountains to the cities. - introduced a new currency - built roads to connect the empire - started the Pax Romana → period of 207 years without civil war.