After the triumvirs mutually decided to divide the Roman Empire, Antony took charge of the eastern provinces, where he fell in love with and later married the charming Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. He was finally defeated and killed by Octavian in the last civil war that led to the final collapse of the Roman
Caesar would later destroy what was left of the republic. Over the years as an empire, the political system appeared to be a ball and chain to the public. “ The political office was seen as a hardship, not an asset to the public. There was nearly constant warfare among the Roman leaders themselves in the century leading up to 31 B.C., when the Roman Empire was established. One of the most difficult problems was choosing a new emperor.
• The situation in Rome toward the end of the Republican period was that the country’s senate had lost majority of its power. The senate had become corrupt, divided and inefficient due to the powerful generals who commanded legions and extorted Rome. • Octavian’s rise to power and the establishment of the Augustan principate became a reality due to many factors, tactics and challenges conquered by the now great historical figure and leader. The impact of Caesar’s death, the formation of the Second Triumvirate, the settlements of 27BC and 23BC as well as Octavian’s manipulation, powers and titles in the new form of government all contributed to the result of Octavian’s power and influence over Rome. Body: • The impacts of Caesar’s death on Octavian were the Senate’s arrangement and his inheritance.
Periods of stability were mixed in with those of near collapse, while powerful generals or inciters of the Roman mob jockeyed for position. The political, social, and economic crisis of the Republic was ultimately solved by extending Roman citizenship to the provincials and by imposing social peace from above by the authority of first a dictator who was Julius Caesar, then an Emperor, Caesar Augustus. During the wars of the third and second centuries, the senate came to exercise enormous power (Spielvogel, p. 135). Beginning with the Punic Wars and Roman conquest outside of Italy, followed by massive importation of slaves, the face of Roman life was changing far more rapidly than the governing body could deal with. Political backbiting was and always would be a common trait in any system, but even the greatest of Romans like Scipio Africanus, was a victim to the whims of politicians.
With the lack of soldiers, it would be easier to invade Rome, which could’ve led to the decline of the Empire. This proves that internal decay was one of the major causes for the end of Rome. Document 6 shows the invasions of Barbarians in 476 on the Roman Empire. This demonstrates that the government and military were becoming weaker to the point where they weren’t strong enough to protect the empire from invasions. The government could not control all these invasions, so this was another component that helped the fall of the Roman Empire.
When Maximian, in dispute with his son, fled to Constantine, Constantine received and sheltered him until Maximian, in an attempt to regain the throne, undertook a revolt against Constantine's rule in Gaul. Unsuccessful against Constantine, Maximian was forced to commit suicide. Constantine, having already declared against Maxentius and ignoring the fact that Galerius had recognized Licinius in the East, now considered himself emperor. When Galerius died in 310, still another claimant to the imperial throne appeared in Maximin, who allied himself with Maxentius against the alliance of Licinius and Constantine. While Licinius attacked Maximin, Constantine moved into Italy against Maxentius.
This can be argued was to do with this battle because Valen lost two thirds of his army. It also showed that the Roman legions were no match for the heavy cavalry which many empires started to recruit. This then led to the Middle Ages and knights. The weakness of the Roman legionaries was showed again in 410 in the sacking of Rome. This was seen as another step towards the fall of the Roman Empire because this defeat was inevitable after the defeat
In the next twenty years it’s clear to see the effects of Augustus’s victory on Roman society. Through powerful propaganda Augustus attempted to restore the republic to its former glories. Promote an era of peace and return roman society to it’s earliest tradition. Roman society was to be affected, for the first time a line of kings had been founded and consequently society was at the mercy of one man’s monarch. A century of political upheaval, civil wars, proscriptions and economic devastation had come to an abrupt end.
Roman expansion into Germanic territories was essentially halted and the assimilation of the Germanic tribes was a failure. Later, barbarian tribes from this region will pressure the Roman authority along its boarders. Three hundred years later Emperor Diocletian creates political and economic reforms in an effort to strengthen the empire against growing external threats. He felt that the empire had grown to size that was too large for one to rule. He splits the empire into two halves and implements the rule of tetrarchy.
Beginning with Bassianus, the audience witnesses his decline as the throne is taken from him and given to his brother Saturninus due to primogeniture. In many ways the play is (although not solely), a plea for elective rather than aristocratic succession in Government. Bassianus’ failure to ascend the throne is the first act depicting the decline of Rome (as he is better suited to rule than Saturninus in every way but through heritage), also set in motion the beginning of the implosion of the Andronici. The action taken by Titus cost Bassianus his future wife, Lavinia, as the new Emperor vows to take her as his wife. Martius argues: “Thou art a Roman be not barbarous,” In protest at Saturninus’ decision to make Lavinia his wife and also of Titus’ murder of his own son, Mutius, for