ROME: FROM REPUBLIC TO EMPIRE · Summer 2022 · Torch: U.S.
15
believed that Caesar was too powerful and undermined the Senate, so they orchestrated his assassination. Over the course of Caesar’s short reign, the Roman Republic spanned all across Europe and even extended to North Africa. Increased wars between Rome and the neighboring regions, resulting from the excessive expansion, contributed to the Republic’s collapse. Such a vast Roman Republic could not be sustained, as it needed a strong, centralized government for security and upkeep, so it transitioned to another stage of authority.
Augustus, the first emperor, restructured the Roman Republic into a military dictatorship called the Principate by monopolizing his political authority. As the ruler of the Principate, he called himself princeps ("first among equals") to conceal his true role as a military dictator. Augustus’ cunning enabled him to attain the utmost authority for a long period of time, as opposed to Caesar who boasted his supremacy. In order to further maintain stability, Augustus created the Equite class to bridge the gap between the merchants and the senatorial class where the majority of the wealth lay. This action allowed him to have centralized governing authority, taking power away from the senate and the people's Assemblies. During his successful reign, Augustus conquered Egypt, parts of the Middle East, and central Europe. Discussing the Roman Empire during the time of Augustus’ emperorship, Cnaeus Julius Agricola once wrote, "These Gauls and Germans, and, I blush to say, these Britons, who, though they lend their lives to support a stranger’s rule, have been its enemies longer than its subjects, you cannot imagine to be bound by fidelity and affection." His statement shows the dedication of the Roman Empire to conquer and subjugate all of its rivals and flaunt its power at all costs. In order to rule its far-reaching lands, the Empire needed military might and one ambitious leader because it could not merely rely on blind loyalty to Rome from its conquered subjects, such as the Gauls, Germans, and Britons. By asserting their superiority through conquest and controlling their rivals, the future Roman emperors were also able to retain their dictatorial position at the apex of the Empire.
Rome’s government experienced a transformation from a Republic to military dictatorship due to social conflicts, military conquests, and the ability of Emperor Augustus to monopolize his political power, which set a precedent for subsequent emperors. Through this transition and the maintenance of stability and dominance during its military dictatorship, the Roman Empire experienced Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”), its golden age. Pax Romana enabled vast Romanization because people were able to transport goods and ideas into other lands via protected, durable roads. As a result, Latin language and Roman culture became much more prevalent throughout the western Mediterranean, and the Roman Empire gained more influence in those areas. Despite the subject peoples not being forced to Romanize, many chose to learn Latin and follow the Roman lifestyle themselves in order to earn access to a citizenship in the Empire, along with financial and legal opportunities and support.
If Rome had not shifted from an overwhelmed Republic to a prosperous military dictatorship, it would not have been able to have such a lasting influence on the ancient and modern worlds in government, culture, and language.
Rome’s government experienced a transformation from a Republic to military dictatorship due to social conflicts, military conquests, and the ability of Emperor Augustus to monopolize his political power, which set a precedent for subsequent emperors. Through this transition and the maintenance of stability and dominance during its military dictatorship, the Roman Empire experienced Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”), its golden age. Pax Romana enabled vast Romanization because people were able to transport goods and ideas into other lands via protected, durable roads. As a result, Latin language and Roman culture became much more prevalent throughout the western Mediterranean, and the Roman Empire gained more influence in those areas. Despite the subject peoples not being forced to Romanize, many chose to learn Latin and follow the Roman lifestyle themselves in order to earn access to a citizenship in the Empire, along with financial and legal opportunities and support.
If Rome had not shifted from an overwhelmed Republic to a prosperous military dictatorship, it would not have been able to have such a lasting influence on the ancient and modern worlds in government, culture, and language.
Works Cited
1. Bulliet. "Rome's Creation of a Mediterranean Empire, 753 BCE - 330 CE" In The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, AP Edition, 6th ed.,
138-47. Cengage Learning, 2014. Textbook.
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781305328396/pageid/0
2. "The Twelve Tables." 449 BCE. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/ancient/twelve_tables.asp.
3. Cornelius Tacitus, Alfred John Church, and William Jackson Brodribb. "Life of Cnaeus Julius Agricola." c.93 CE.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A
1999.02.0081%3Achapter%3D32