Rome's political legacy still lives on today through examples such as democratic republics, elected representatives, citizenship, and systems of laws. The growing Roman Empire's legions needed powerful generals to control and defend its expanding territory, but this made the generals increasingly powerful over time and distrustful of the Senate. The first Triumvirate was a secret alliance between two generals, Julius Caesar and Pompey, and the wealthy Crassus to control the Republic. This alliance fell apart and led to civil war between Caesar and Pompey, culminating in Caesar's victory and rise as Rome's dictator. However, some feared he was becoming too powerful, and he was assassinated in 44 BC, leading to the formation of the second Triumvir

1. Warm-Up C1
1. Describe how Rome’s political legacy still lives
on today. Provide several examples.

2. Politics
A Growing Empire
Why were generals becoming so
powerful?
• Rome needed the legions (the
Roman armies) to control and
defend the growing empire.
• The problem was that the
soldiers were paid by their
generals and not the republic.
• Overtime this made the
generals increasingly
powerful, and the senate
began to distrust the generals.

3. Politics
The 1st Triumvirate
Who made up the first triumvirate?
• 2 generals (Julius Caesar and
Pompey) and one very rich
man (Crassus) made a secret
alliance to control many of the
decisions made by the
Republic.
• This alliance was called the 1st
Triumvirate.

4. Politics
The 1st Triumvirate
• The 1st Triumvirate began to
fall apart after Caesar’s friend
Crassus died.
• Pompey became jealous of
Caesar’s military successes
and popularity.

5. Politics
Civil War
Why did Caesar march his legions back
to Rome and start a civil war?
• Pompey became consul in 52
B.C. and ordered Caesar to
return to Rome and stand
trial.
• Knowing that he would be
arrested, Caesar headed back
to Rome and crossed the
Rubicon River with his legions.
• This was a violation of Roman
law, and an act of civil war.

6. Politics
Civil War
What happened to Pompey after the
civil war?
• Pompey and Caesar fought a
major battle at Pharsalus and
Caesar won.
• After losing the civil war
Pompey went to Egypt and
was assassinated.
• Julius Caesar became the
most powerful person in the
Roman empire.

7. Politics
Dictator
What did Caesar have the senate do?
Why did some people begin to fear
Caesar?
• Julius Caesar requested the
senate pass a law making him
dictator for life, and the
senate passed the law
reluctantly.
• Many Romans began to think
Caesar was trying to make
himself a King.

8. Politics
Dictator
What happened on the Ides of March?
• Even friends of Caesar began
to be concerned for the
republic and Caesar’s power
grabbing.
• On the Ides of March
(3/15), Julius Caesar was
stabbed 23 times in the
Senate.

9. Politics
2nd Triumvirate
Why was the 2nd Triumvirate formed?
• Caesars friend Marc Antony,
adopted son Octavian, and
Lepidus form a 2nd triumvirate
to hunt down and kill Caesar’s
assassinators.
• Another civil war is fought
with the triumvirate being
victorious.

10. Politics
Another Civil War
Why did Marc Antony and Octavian
begin to fight with each other?
What happened to Marc Antony after
he lost the civil war?
• After their success, Marc Antony
and Octavian became
increasingly hostile toward one
another.
• Marc Antony made an alliance
with Cleopatra and challenged
Octavian.
• Another civil war was fought,
and Octavian won.
• Marc Antony and Cleopatra ran
away to Egypt and committed
suicide together.

11. Politics
Pax Romana
Octavian became Rome’s first what?
What did Octavian’s name change to?
Who started the Pax Romana?
• With Octavian’s success he
became the only remaining
leader of Rome.
• Octavian becomes Rome’s first
emperor and is given the new
name Augustus Caesar.
• Augustus proves to be a very
good leader and begins a
period in Roman history called
the Pax Romana.

12. Rough Draft – Blog Writing
Pages 317-324
Task: Explain The decline and fall of the Western
Roman Empire .
Paragraph 1: 4 Reasons why the Empire declined
Paragraph 2: Describe the actual fall of Rome.