Crisis of the Late Republic

I. Plebian Grievances

A. Imperial wealth pushes farmers of land or into debt  

B. Italian claims to citizenship

C.  Populares vs optimates

1. Gracchus brothers are populares        

2. Their assassination marks beginning of civil strife

II. Conservative Fears

A. plebian power   

 B. decay of Roman virtues

pietas

gravitas

severitas (frugalitas, firmitas)   

C.Individual power of generals

III.Rise of the Generals: a new politics of great men

A. Marius, inventor of the private army

B. Sulla, conservative,

C. Pompey, indispensable, but did not rule

D. Caesar, Not afraid to rule

IV. Triumph and Fall of Caesar

A. Conquers Gaul

1. Senate insists he retire

2. Faces trial brought by political opponents

B. Crosses the Rubicon--attacks Rome

1. Declares himself dictator

2. Defeats Pompey in Greece

C. Ides of March

1. Senators resort to assassination

2. Brutus and Cato defeated by Caesar’s generals

3. Octavian eventually defeats Marc Antony

(and Cleopatra) to succeed Caesar as dictator