Problems/Romans-Rich and Poor
What happened between the rich and poor in the Roman Republic?
The rich got richer, the poor got poorer, and the gap widened.
When Caesar took over the Roman government, what did he declare himself?
Dictator for life
Since senators Brutus and Cassius believed that Julius Caesar wanted to be king, what did they do?
Plot to kill him and then killed him
What is a triumvirate?
Antony fell in love with an Egyptian queen named Cleopatra and formed what?
an alliance
Why couldn't small farmers even get jobs on huge farms?
The jobs were going to thousands of prisoners captured in Roman wars.
How did the Senate respond to the Gracchus brothers' proposals for reforms?
They killed the Gracchus brothers.
Who did the soldiers feel more loyalty to?
Generals because they hired them.
Which one of the First Triumvirate started to win the admiration and support of the poorer classes?
Julius Caesar
Octavian took the title of Augustus or "the majestic one." He was now named Caesar Augustus, and became the first Roman what?
Emperor
They offered the poor cheap food and free entertainment, "bread and circuses."
What reforms did the Gracchus brothers want?
They urged the Senate to take land from the latifundia (large farming estates), and return it to the poor.
What did the general named Marius do to help the poor?
He gave them paying jobs as soldiers.
Who started to fear that Julius Caesar was becoming too popular?
Roman senators
What did Octavian accuse Antony and Cleopatra of?
Plotting against Rome
What is a latifundia?
large farming estates
Where did the Roman Republic face mounting economic troubles?
at home
What general believed that he could solve Rome's economic problems and help the poor?
Marius
The Senate ordered Julius Caesar to give up his army and return to Rome. What main rival of Julius Caesar did the Senate give their support to?
Pompey
After Caesar's death, who made up the Second Triumvirate?
Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus
What were most Romans?
Plebeians who farmed small plots of land.
What are three reasons that farmers fell into poverty?
They neglected their fields while fighting in Roman wars, their farms had been destroyed by the Carthaginians, and small farmers could not compete with the wealthy Romans who owned latifundia, or large farming estates.
In 82 B.C., Sulla named himself dictator. Who did he give more responsibilities to?
The senators
What reforms did Julius Caesar introduce that made him powerful with the poor?
He gave citizenship to people in the outlying areas of Rome, created jobs for unemployed, and organized new settlements for the landless poor.
Who was Cicero?
A well-known political leader and writer in Rome.