Write a Narrative of the End of the Roman Republic. Your narrative should include all of the people and events listed below and should end by explaining the end of the Roman Republic. Be sure to answer both of the below points:
How did a combination of inter-class conflict (patrician vs. plebeian) and a series of rising military strong men — culminating in first Julius and then Octavian/Augustus Caesar — contribute to the fall of the Roman Republic?
In your considered opinion did structural problems (economic inequality, class division, land ownership patterns etc.) or individuals (Sulla, Pompey, J. Caesar, Augustus etc.) contribute more to the eventual end of the Republic?
The work should be double-spaced, in 12-pitch Arial or Times New Roman font, and at least two full pages in length with one inch margins all around.
Focus on how each person’s actions or each event leads to the next person’s actions or event. In other words you should be telling the story or narrative of the end of the Republic. This means that you must go beyond defining or describing each event to showing how one leads to the next. You might start by discussing Rome’s economic problems and how the Gracchus brothers attempted to address them. Then move on to the others. Be sure to end with the assassination of Caesar and why that ended the Republic
Background:
It has been suggested that the end of the Roman Republic began with economic problems following from the end of Roman conquests. These problems became political problems and at this train of events ended with Caesar’s assassination and the end of the Republic.
Is that the case? Based upon the readings and video, write a brief narrative of the End of the Republic.
Assignment:
Your narrative should start with the economic problems besetting Rome that led to the actions taken by the Gracchus Brothers and includes explanations of ALL of the following. It is appropriate to include a paragraph that explains your understanding of why the Republic came to an end and was replaced by the dictatorial Roman Empire.
Gracchus Brothers
Optimates and Populares
Marius
Sulla
Civil War
Julius Caesar
Assassination
End of the Republic
Citations, Sources, & Academic Dishonesty:
