The Roman Republic developed into the Roman Empire as the struggle of power between factions in Rome effected the structure of the Republic. This struggle was resolved by the settlement of Augustus, bringing about a new age in Roman culture.
After the Punic wars, many soldiers returning home to farm found their fields practically unworkable. Some moved to Rome to work as laborers and others worked as tenant farmers or hired hands. Because the upper classes had enough wealth to buy the abandoned land cheap and slaves provided labor, they transformed the area into large plantations and cattle ranches. This divided the classes more sharply into the poor landless and the wealthy landed. Tiberius Gracchus became tribune on a program of land reform. His basic idea was that the state reclaim title to all but 300 acres from each landowner and redistribute the reclaimed land back to the poor for a nominal rent paid to the state. This bill was vetoed twice by Octavius and was subject to much criticism from the landed Senate. Tiberius, with the support of the people, had Octavius unconstitutionally removed from office and the assembly passed the bill. Tiberius along with about 300 of his supporters was later killed by a mob of Senators. Gaius Gracchus further undermined the influence of the Senate and courted the favor of a new class known as the equestrians. After Gaius lost the election of 121 BCE, the Senate had him killed and some 3,000 of his followers put to death without trial.
Marius became consul in 107 BCE. He was a capable general and reinvented the Roman army using mostly volunteers of dispossessed farmers. These volunteers became professional soldiers, counting on their general for food, clothing, and shelter and expecting a bonus, usually of land, upon retirement. The general then had to obtain the .
means to pay his soldiers from the Senate. This created military leaders with enough power to challenge civilian authority.
The Roman Empire was an undisputed superpower in Western Civilization. ... He transformed the Roman Empire from a republic into a monarchy. ... Augustus added more territory, expanding the Roman Empire further than any other Roman. ... These rulers presided over the most majestic days of the Roman Empire. ... He reunited the Roman Empire and tried to create the impression of order. ...
Justinian's Flea by William Rosen describes the fall of the Roman Empire from the division of the Empire by Diocletian to the start of the rise of the Islamic powers. Rosen's book is one of many that has attempted to make sense of the time of transition between the end of the Roman Empire and what we call Medieval Europe. The Roman Empire was split up by Diocletian into east and west with Rome being the dividing line. ... Rosen is clear in stating that the Byzantine Empire is not the Roman Empire but in fact is unique in its culture its laws and its architecture. ... Belisarius was t...
The Fall of The Roman Empire The fall of Rome had many aspects that affected it. ... The Roman empire had many problems that were not fixed and they became bigger and bigger until it crush the whole empire. ... (Document 5) to explain this more the roman empire stopped expanding after they adopted Christianity .Due to the benevolence of the christian god the roman citizens decided to give up Rome's traditional warlike habits because of the god they kind became soft and they were weak. ... Due to the falling off within the Roman empire, it was dying from the inside out and they never tried...
"The bigger they are, the harder they fall"; this can be compared to the Roman Empire's existence. ... However, the Roman Empire eventually collapsed after a period of five centuries. ... The Romans did not see the point in conquests anymore because the Empire was already hard enough to govern. ... Another reason for the fall of the Roman Empire was the rise of Christianity. ... However, in 476, Odoacer, a German general in the Roman army, invaded the empire. ...
Hersch was saying, Christianity wasn't a threat to the Roman Empire because the Roman Empire tolerated monotheism. Roman Empire was okay with people who believed in one god as long as they don't seemed threatening to the Roman Empire. ... The early Christians are responsible too for spreading the messages of the Lord in the Roman Empire. ... This illustrates that when the number of Christians doubled, Roman Empire saw this as a threat. The Romans felt that Christians are against the Roman Empire so they killed, tortured and crucified Christians. ...
The Roman Empire eventually declined for a number of reasons. ... (Mehalek, "The Fall of The Roman Empire") The Empire had grown to large for one emperor to successfully and effectively govern the land. ... (Forsythe, "From Republic To Empire") The resulting weakened Roman Empire caused the soldiers to have a lack of confidence and spirit. ... (Heitman "About the fall of the Roman Empire") All of these things may not have lead to the complete collapse of the Roman Empire if it weren't for the other surrounding circumstances. ... Defeats that eventually led to the complete destruction o...
The Roman Empire was one of the most successful empire of its time and lasted from about 500 B.C. to about 500 A.D. Many things the Romans did attributed to the success and longevity of the Roman Empire. ... One of the most important reasons for Roman success was, Romans wanted to achieve something called Pax Romana or Roman Peace through out their empire. ... During the Roman Empire there were many important leaders who contributed a lot to the success of Roman. ... The Roman Empire was the most successful of any empire of its time. ...
The Roman Empire was plagued by tyrannous rulers, whose actions did not favor the people. ... And even though the Roman Empire lasted so long, there were times when its longevity was questioned; unfortunately those questions were never answered. ... The tyrannous rulers are not all to blame for the fall of the Roman Empire. ... More bad luck was to be found in the Roman Empire. ... The Roman Empire represented lost dreams, lost hope, and doom. ...
The Han and Roman Empires The Roman Empire and the Han Empire were similar and different in many ways. ... The Roman Empire, government system established by Rome lasted for nearly five centuries. ... In comparison with the Roman Empire the Han Empire was also known for its military prowess. ... To sum this essay up both the Han Empire and Roman Empire were very similar. ... The Han and Roman empires had strong leaders and strong citizens which made them who they were. ...
What were the most important reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire? ... The seemingly unstoppable Roman Empire was bound to fall after the many aspects that made Rome such a dominant empire started to fade away. ... Christianity a new religion appealed to the majority of the people of the Roman Empire. ... The Roman government system was designed to control a city-state not a giant empire. ... The Roman Empire did not fall in a day but rather fell victim to a gradual decline in the prosperity due to many illogical decisions made by the Romans themselves. ...
