5/19/20

Main Idea: Empire Building. The creation of the Roman Empire transformed Roman government, society, economy, and culture

• Rome's increasing wealth and expanding boundaries brought many problems
• As Rome grew, the gap between rich and poor grew bigger

• small farmers found it difficult to compete with the large estates run by the labor of enslaved people
• Many of the farmers were former soldiers 
• A period of civil war, or conflict between groups within the same country, followed their deaths
• in 60 BC military leader, Julius Caesar joined forces with Crasses, a wealthy Roman, and Pompey, a popular general.
• Caesar was elected consul in 59 BC 
• these men dominated Rome as a triumvirate, a group of three rulers
• Caesar governed as an absolute ruler, on who has total power

• He granted Roman citizenship to many people in the provinces
• He expanded the senate, adding friends and supporters from Italy and other regions
• He helped the poor by creating jobs