Ancient Rome - Part 3
End of the Roman Republic
AIM: What was the cause of the end of the Roman Republic?
Do Now: Why was Egypt important to the Romans? (hint: think river valley)
Roman Civil War
After Marius and Sulla died, it was clear that the Roman Senate was no longer powerful enough to run the Roman Empire. Everyone looked for who the next powerful general would be. To get power, three men joined forces: Pompey; (a friend of Sulla's), Crassus (a very rich man), and Julius Caesar (a friend of Marius'). Between them these men ran the government for about ten years, while Julius Caesar conquered Gaul (modern France). But then Crassus was killed fighting the Parthians in West Asia, and Pompey and Julius Caesar got in a civil war. Again many men died on both sides, but finally Caesar won at the battle of Pharsalus (FAR-sa-luss).Pompey fled to Egypt, but the Egyptians killed him so Caesar wouldn't be mad at them.
Julius Caesar
When Caesar got to Egypt, he was happy that Pompey was dead. He also met Cleopatra there, and took her back to Rome. They had a child. But when he declared himself dictator for life, this was too much for the Senators, and they murdered him in 44 BC. Cleopatra soon became the girlfriend of Caesar's friend Mark Anthony, and they had three more children.
Antony & Cleopatra / Octavian
A younger group of men then formed another group: this time it was Mark Anthony, Lepidus (who was very rich), and Octavian (Caesar's nephew and adopted son). It worked out just the same way. Eventually Lepidus was forced out of power. Then Anthony (with his girlfriend Cleopatra) and Octavian got into a civil war. In 31 BC Octavian beat Anthony and Cleopatra in battle at Actium, and they killed themselves.
Classwork & Homework
Lesson PowerPoint: End of the Republic
Lesson Video(s):
- The Roman Senate Debates Antony's Betrayal
- Cleopatra Summons Mark Antony
- Octavian Finds Out Antony is Dead & Cleopatra is Alive
- Cleopatra Commits Suicide
Lesson Worksheet: End of Republic Worksheet
Homework: