From Republic to Empire

6th Grade UBD - Unit 7 - From Republic to Empire

Preview

Rome Becomes an Empire- Julius

Caesar’s defeat of Pompey led to the end

of the Roman Republic and the founding of

the Roman Empire.

The Growth of the Empire- The Roman

Empire grew quickly in its first 100 years.

At last, it grew too large to be governed

easily.

Reach Into Your Background

In ancient Rome a

dictator was selected to

rule the country in a

time of war or other

crisis and was expected

to return power to the

regular government

once the crisis was over.

What do you think of

when you think of a

dictator?

( 4 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

Key Ideas- Rome Becomes an Empire

Caesar was originally Pompey’s ally in the First Triumvirate.

Caesar’s victory in Gaul gave him the political strength to

defeat Pompey.

Some members of the Roman Senate were worried about

Caesar’s growing power. As a result, they assassinated him.

Octavian, Caesar’s nephew, won the civil war that followed

Caesar’s death. He became Augustus, the emperor.

From Republic to Empire

Rome’s transition from

republic to empire had a

great impact on its

citizens.

Under the republic, the

Roman people had the

ability to choose their

own leaders and

representatives.

Caesars Path to PowerVideo- Caesars Path to Power

Augustus Caesar Father of RomeReading Handout- Augustus Caesar Father of Rome

Key Term

Julius Caesar- A

Roman general

and statesman.

He was also a

prolific writer. He

laid the

groundwork for

the

transformation of

Rome from a

republic to an

empire.

From Republic to Empire

With the rise of Julius

Caesar and the creation

of the Roman Empire,

people lost their right to

choose their leaders.

The government was led

by emperors whose power

to rule was passed on

through their family lines.

The Rise of Julius Caesar

The creation of the empire

greatly limited citizens’

political rights, and this

political system was marked

by violence and disorder.

However, it also led to many

benefits, including

expansion, wealth, and

diversity.

Political and Military Success

Caesar was very

ambitious. He served

in the Roman military

and was a skillful

soldier.

He also was a clever

politician and a skilled

writer and speaker.

Political and Military Success

In its early years, Rome was

a republic guided by

democratic political beliefs.

After a series of successes

in the Punic Wars, Rome

grew larger and stronger. At

that time it was ruled by a

triumvirate, a group of

three leaders.

Key Term

Triumvirate

-

In ancient

Rome a

triumvirate

was a ruling

commission

of three

officials.

Political and Military Success

One of these leaders,

Julius Caesar, used

military successes to

increase his power.

He then defeated his

main rival in the

triumvirate, Pompey,

and declared himself

the sole ruler of Rome.

Political and Military Success

After Julius Caesar

declared himself the

sole ruler of Rome

the government

began the process by

which it ceased to be

a republic and

became an empire.

Dictator for Life

Caesar’s rise ushered in

a time of great

expansion and success

as well as great turmoil.

Roman territory began

to grow tremendously,

and many of Rome’s

common people loved

their new leader.

The Ides of March

However, a group of

senators, fearing

Caesar’s

unrestrained power,

assassinated him.

This act led to a

lengthy and bloody

civil war in Rome.

Key Term

Ides of March-

A day on the

Roman calendar

that

corresponds to

15 March. It has

became

notorious as the

date of the

assassination of

Julius Caesar.

Key Term

Assassinate-

To murder (an

important

person) in a

surprise attack

for political or

religious

reasons.

The Murder of CaesarVideo- The Murder of Caesar

The New Emperor

The civil war in Rome,

finally ended with the

ascension of Octavian

as the emperor

Augustus.

Augustus and future

emperors expanded the

Roman Empire even

farther and spread

Roman influences

across much of the

world.

The First EmperorVideo- The First Emperor

The Growth of the Empire

Although the

Roman Empire

flourished for

many years, its

political situation

remained one of

instability and

violence.

Key Ideas- The Growth of the Empire

Rome’s place on the Mediterranean Sea and its

warm climate made it easy to grow food.

Conquered nations were absorbed into the Roman

Empire. Cities were built to look like Rome, and the

Roman culture was passed on to the new citizens.

The empire was run in an orderly fashion. However,

the transfer of the role of emperor involved many

cruel acts.

Key Term

Pax Romana-

Latin for

“Roman

Peace.”

Pax Romana

The Pax Romana

brought an end to the

inside fighting that had

existed in Rome since

the time of Caesar.

During this period,

Rome’s growth brought

great riches and new

ways of doing things to

the empire and its

people.

Roman BuildingsVideo- Roman Buildings

Roman Buildings

There was a strong

sense of similarity

among Roman cities.

They all were designed

and built to look like one

another.

All Roman cities had a

theater and temples set

aside for different gods.

Roman Buildings

They also had

aqueducts to carry

water through the city,

and they all had public

bathhouses.

Buildings in even the

most distant provinces

were designed the

same as those in Rome.

Key Term

Aqueduct- An

artificial

waterway

designed to

carry water from

one place to

another. The

word comes

from the Latin

aqua, meaning

“water.”

The Growth of the Empire

Many people were

happy to become a

part of Rome.

The Romans brought

many advantages,

including better

architecture,

education, and health.

The Growth of the Empire

A common

language,

calendar,

religion, and

form of money

helped tie the

Roman Empire

together.

Portrait of an Empire

Citizens anywhere in the Roman Empire also were

treated the same way. They spoke Latin and used the

same form of money.

They also used the same calendar. It was called the

Julian calendar. It was named after Julius Caesar, its

creator.

These details meant that all cities and all people in the

empire were connected. This was even true of cities that

Rome conquered and added to its growing empire.

Ancient RomeReading Handout- Ancient Rome

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)