Aim: Why did the Roman Republic collapse?

Trouble in the Republic


Damages to farms

Small farmers could not compete with wealthy landowners

Latifundia – large estates

Prisoners were used to work on land



Continued

Farmers faced a lot of debt

“Bread and Circuses” – provide cheap food and entertainment

Problems were ignored by the wealthy class

Marius-Consul changed the army from volunteer to paid professional soldier

Felt loyal to their general no to the Republic

Continued

Power struggles between generals and leaders

Summary

What group made the best Roman soldiers paid professionals or citizen volunteers?

Julius Caesar

Triumvirate – political alliance of three people. (Crassus, pompey, and Caesar ruled together)

Julius Caesar- battled foreign tribes and invaded Britain

Caesar marched into Italy by crossing the Rubicon

Declared himself dictator

Filled the Senate with his loyalists



Caesar’s Reforms

Granted citizenship to people living in Rome’s territories

Started new colonies

Created work for the jobless

Ordered landowners using slave labor to hire more free workers

Created a new calendar



Julius Caesar

The senators feared he would be King for Life

Was killed by the Senate