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Roman Leader Information Roman Leadership (after Punic Wars): How did the changes in leadership have an influence on the development of the Roman Empire? Reformers, Generals, and Dictators Reformer – A person devoted to bringing about positive changes in a society. Reformers, Generals, and Dictators Dictator – Absolute ruler who has unrestricted control of the a government. Tiberius Gracchus (168-133 BC) • Became Tribune in 133 BC • Wanted to divide public lands and give them to the poor. • Idea was vetoed by the tribune. • Attempted to run for a second term as tribune, which was illegal – Senate staged a riot to stop him – They killed Tiberius and his followers. Tiberius Gracchus—reformer -Time Period: 133 B.C. -Accomplishments: 1st Roman reformer, a person who works to change and improve a society ; became tribune & wanted to give land back to poor -Supporters: Gaius Gracchus (brother) and poorer classes -End of Term: Killed by members of the Senate-threatened by his ideas since he wanted to limit the amount of land a person could own Tiberius Gracchus General Gaius Marius (157-86 BC) • Became Consul in 107 BC • Military hero – Supported by ex-soldiers who felt taken advantage of – Supported by farmers who lost their land while serving in the army • Set up a professional army and allowed anyone to join. • Provided jobs for many unemployed Romans • Many Romans showed more loyalty to him than to the Roman Republic. General Gaius Marius -Time Period: 107 B.C. -Accomplishments: military hero; first lower- class Roman to hold a high office. Opened army to everyone as consul; offered the following to the poor to get them to join the army: pay, land, pensions, and booty, things taken from enemies during war -Supporters: Lower-class citizens; ex-soldiers -End of Term: A rival named Lucius Cornelius Sulla led an army and overthrew Marius. *Even though Marius opened the army to everyone, soldiers became loyal to their generals and not Rome Gaius Marius General Lucius Sulla • Took control away from General Marius in a civil war. • Made himself Rome’s first dictator – Doubled the size of the Senate – Gave Senators more duties and responsibility – Weakened the power of the tribunes • Retired General Lucius Sulla -Time Period: 82 B.C. -Accomplishments: Overthrew Marius when Marius tried to get the assembly to take command away from Sulla; became dictator , or absolute ruler . Doubled size of Senate and weakened Tribunes -Supporters: Legionaries and Patricians -End of Term: Retired Lucius Sulla The First Triumvirate Triumvirate – A group of three persons with equal power Marcus Crassus Pompey the Great Julius Caesar Marcus Crassus—1st Triumvirate -Time Period: 60 B.C. -believed in a republic run by upper-class senators -Accomplishments: statesmen, financier, and military leader; Member of the First Triumvirate , or group of 3 leaders with equal power; called “The Rich” because he made much money through investments -Supporters: Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompey -End of Term: Killed in battle Marcus Crassus Gnaeus Pompeius (Pompey)- 1st Triumvirate -Time Period: 60 B.C. -Accomplishments: Rome’s highest ranking elected official; outstanding Roman general and statesmen; Member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar’s rival for power after Crassus died -Supporters: Army soldiers -End of Term: Killed in Egypt by supporters of Caesar Pompey Julius Caesar—1st Triumvirate -Time Period: 46 B.C. -member of the First Triumvirate *Julius Caesar gained power in 48 B.C. after the death of Pompey -In 58 B.C., Caesar became governor of Gaul and built-up a strong and loyal army -The Senate ordered him to break up army and return to Rome in 50 B.C. -He instead led his army to Rome in order to challenge Pompey -Became dictator of Rome in 46 B.C and made many reforms Caesar Julius Caesar (continued) -Accomplishments: Member of First Triumvirate, general, reformer, and dictator of Rome; redistributed state lands in Italy; founded new colonies overseas; began public works projects; planned and paid for gladiatorial games; doubled the size of the Senate; cut back activities of the publicans -Supporters: plebeians, military -End of Term: Killed by a group of Senators since they feared Caesar would make himself king! Caesar’s Reforms/Accomplishments • Divided state land and founded new territories • Expanded public works – Built roads and buildings – Drained marshes around Rome • Made gladiatorial games free to the public Caesar’s Reforms/Accomplishments • Doubled the size of the Senate • Decreased the power of the publicans • He adopted a new calendar (Julian calendar) (Marcus Antonius) Mark Antony —2nd Trimvirate -Time Period: 43 B.C. *Married to Cleopatra of Egypt. *Formed a Second Triumvirate -Accomplishments: Close friend of and military leader with Caesar who took control of Roman territories to the East after Caesar’s death; member of the Second Triumvirate -Supporters: Caesar and military -End of Term: Octavian became emperor, sole ruler of the Roman Empire Mark Antony Octavian (Augustus)— 2nd Triumvirate -Time Period: 27 B.C.-14 A.D. -Accomplishments: Caesar’s adopted son, Member of Second Triumvirate; Became first emperor of Rome after fights broke out with Antony, ending in Antony’s defeat in 31 B.C. -Supporters: Caesar *** Became first Roman Emperor, sole ruler of Rome! Reign lasted 41 years —ended in 14 A.D. Octavian (Augustus): Rome’s First Emperor! Augustus was a clever politician, who held the offices of consul, tribune, high priest, and senator all at the same time. Augustus kept the assemblies and government officials of the republic, yet strengthened his authority in two ways: 1. For control, he had every soldier swear allegiance to him . 2. He chose leadership positions based on talent rather than birth. This gave enslaved people and freedmen , or former enslaved people, a chance to be part of the government. Augustus pushed Rome’s borders to natural boundaries that would be easy to defend. He gave provincial governors long terms of office and paid them large salaries. To make sure that people did not pay too little or too much tax, Augustus ordered a census , or population count, to be taken from time to time. He wrote strict laws to govern public behavior, set up a firefighting and police force to protect the city, and even built a library to encourage learning. Augustus ruled for 41 years, bringing peace, patriotism, and pride to the Romans. Most important, however, he reorganized the government of Rome so that it ran well for more than 200 years. Rule of Augustus • This led to the Pax Romana: the peace and prosperity that Augustus brought to Rome— lasted over 200 years • People prospered, civilization spread, and cultures mixed. Pax Romana -- Trade • increase in trade • same coins used throughout the empire • No tariffs, or taxes placed on goods brought into the country • Goods and money moved freely along the trade routes. Pax Romana -- Trade • Mediterranean was cleared of pirates, making it safe for trade and travel. • Shipping became a big business. • Types of goods: – grain from North Africa – brick, marble, granite, and wood for building – luxury items—amber from the north and silk from China Pax Romana -- Trade • Increased trade=more business for Romans • Shopkeepers grew richer. • Wine and olive oil were the main items bought by other countries • Italy became a manufacturing center for pottery, bronze, and woolen cloth. Pax Romana -- Law • When Rome conquered a new territory, Roman merchants had to do business with non-Romans. • Roman judges wrote new laws to make them fair for everyone. • Juris prudentes , special lawyers and legal writers , helped the judges. Pax Romana -- Law • A law was believed to be just because it was reasonable; not because the government had the power to make people obey it. • Everyone was equal under the law. • Everyone was innocent until proven guilty. • By 125 A.D., Roman Law was standardized , which meant that legal procedures were the same in all parts of the empire. • In later years, Roman legal principles formed the basis for the laws of most western countries and of the Christian church..
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