The Triumvirates and the Birth of an Empire

Unit I Chapter 5 Section 2

The First Triumvirate

• Triumvirate – A system of government controlled by three people

• Pompey, Crassus and Julius Caesar• Crassus dies in battle in 53 BCE• The Senate wants Pompey to be the sole leader• Julius Caesar refuses to give up power

– Caesar “crosses the Rubicon” (makes a decision he can never take back)

• Caesar defeats Pompey in Roman Civil War• Julius Caesar declared “Dictator” in 45 BCE

Julius Caesar

• Introduces solar calendar

• Gives land to the poor• Increases Senate to

900 members– Fills it with his friends– Weakens their power

• Assassinated in 44 BCE

The Second Triumvirate

• Lepidus, Marc Antony and Octavian– Lepidus dies

• Marc Antony controls East Rome, Octavian controls the West

• Marc Antony makes alliance with Cleopatra VII– Civil War begins

• Octavian defeats Marc Antony in a Civil War• 31 BCE: The Age of Augustus

From Republic to Empire

• 27 BCE – Octavian becomes “Augustus”• The Senate proclaims him “Imperator” (Emperor)• Augustus appoints Governors to control

provinces of Empire• Through 212 CE, the Roman Empire expands

from Great Britain to modern day Israel to Egypt and Northern Africa

• An empire this size becomes tougher to defend

Problems in the Empire

• Germany – Barbarian groups prevent conquest

• Mesopotamia – Too far away to enforce peaceably

• Great Britain – Hadrian’s Wall is built to attempt to keep outside forces out