Julius CaesarReforms

• 44 B.C.-Dictator for life– Absolute ruler

• Granted citizenship to many people in the provinces

• Created jobs for the poor (Buildings)

• Started colonies- so people could have land

• Increased soldiers pay

Cont.

• His popularity, success, & growing power troubled nobles & Senators

• March 15 44B.C. (Ides of March) assasinated

• Marcus Brutus, Gaius Cassius-leaders

• “Et tu, Brute?”

• Civil war broke out

2nd Triumvirate

• Octavian (Caesar’s nephew/son) 18yrs.,Mark Antony, & Lepidus take over

• They hunt down all invoved

• It ends in jealousy & violence

• Octavian forces Lepidus to retire

• Mark & Cleopatra fall in love

• Oct accuses him of trying to rule from Egypt (Romeo & Juliet)

Octavian Becomes Augustus

• Accepted the title- Agustus- exalted one• Kept the title imperator-supreme military

commander-this is were we get Emperor• Rules 27B.C.- 14 A.D.• This is the Height of Rome- This peace

last 207 years, it is known as the PAX ROMANA

• Empire included 3mill square miles, 80 million people, & 1 million in Rome

Powerful Empire

• 90% of the people farm

• Coinage- Denarius

• Trade

• Sea- Med.

• Land-Complex Road- Silk Roads from China

Huge Empire

• Pg. 149 in your book

• Sound government- civil service, worked even when Bad Emperors such as Caligula & Nero were in charge

• The Pax Romana ended in 180 A.D. with the death of Marcus Aurelius

Life in Rome

• Men- values of discipline, strength and loyalty• Paterfamilias- Head of family• Dis-own children• Banish or sell into slavery• Women- Ran the household, authority &

respect, More freedom than women in the Middle Ages

• Could not own property or testify in court

Cont.

• Children –Boys Citizens, vote

• Girls – No Name – Martinia I & Martinia II

• Few children went to school

• Rich did

• Poor never, worked, Illiterate

• Girls married at 12-15, to much older men

• oooohhhh

Bread & Circuses

• Rich/Poor greatly divided• Rich-Good• Poor just surviving• To distract and control the masses the government free

games & Food• Chariot races• Gladiators• Christians thrown to lion• Could this be like the U.S.• Welfare- M TV, VH-1, BET, Sports, Betting on Sports