Think back to the topic warm-up. What thoughts did you have as to why some governments become weak and collapse while others gain strength and thrive? Did any of the reasons you brainstormed hold true for the ancient Romans as the civilization transitioned from a republic to an empire?

The Roman Republic came to an end due to a variety of economic, social, and political factors. These factors caused tension between the wealthy patricians and the less wealthy plebeians and slaves. The actions of people like Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, and Octavian gave rise to the Roman Empire, with Octavian (newly named Augustus Caesar) as its first emperor. During and after the rule of Augustus, the Roman Empire enjoyed two centuries of peace and prosperity called the Pax Romana. At this time, many advancements were made in government and society.

 

Extend Your Learning - The Servile Wars

In this topic, you learned that the instability of the Roman Republic caused tensions between the patricians and the plebeians and slaves. In the first two centuries B.C. (B.C.E.), the use of slaves for farming increased. Most of these slaves faced harsh conditions, were overworked, and were abused by their masters. Toward the end of the Roman Republic, between 135 B.C. (B.C.E.) and 71 B.C. (B.C.E.), slaves banded together against the government in three Servile Wars. Hover your cursor over titles of each war to learn details about these battles.