# Civus Romanus Sum: Building Empire, Roman Peace, Crisis

Civus Romanus Sum

Transition from a republic to a one-man rule empire

Success of Roman Expansion

Rome took central Italian land and created a model for controlling conquered peoples

Roman Control Expectation

Rome didn’t care about local issues—only loyalty and resources

Conquered Peoples

Often turned into Roman allies through patron–client relationships

Patron–Client System

Rome becomes the patron; conquered communities become clients

Magna Graecia

Greek-colonized southern Italy contributing to Roman patron–client networks

Republic Constant Warfare

Rome is nearly always at war, fueling expansion and political power

Perpetual War Effect

Centralizes power and encourages acceptance of a single strong ruler

Greek and Carthaginian Conflict

Rome pushes south, conflicts with Greeks, supported initially by Carthage

Roman Desire for Southern Italy

Leads to conflict with Carthage over Sicily

Start of Punic Wars

Competition over Sicily between Rome and Carthage

Carthaginians

Phoenician-descended people of Carthage

Outcome of Punic Wars

Rome wins, fundamentally changing Roman identity and power

Post-War Patron Demands

Rome demands loyalty; Carthage resists, causing further wars

Rome Controls Carthaginian Policy

Rome dictates Carthaginian foreign and national decisions

Roman Justification for Violence

Resistance to Rome = resisting the gods’ will

Ethnic Cleansing by Rome

Rome destroys cities, kills civilians, salts land to prevent resettlement

Final Defeat of Carthage

Carthage destroyed, population killed or enslaved, land reshaped

Roman Colonial Surveying

Rome divides conquered land into grid-like colonies

Veteran Land Grants

War veterans receive land in newly surveyed regions

Punishment for Resistance

Locals must leave or be killed if resisting Roman settlement

Tacitus

Greek writer who condemned Rome’s destructive imperial peace in Germania

Tacitus’ Famous Line

“They make a desert and call it peace.”

Local Rule Under Rome

Local elites allowed to rule if loyal, tax-paying, and stable

Army Becomes Government

Military administration increasingly merges with civil rule

Rome After Carthage

Rome controls a massive multiethnic empire

Greek Punishment

Greeks punished for aiding Carthage, later absorbed into Roman rule

Mediterranean Expansion

Rome quickly gains Greek territories and islands

Republic Becomes Outdated

Republican government structure can’t manage huge empire

Communication Breakdown

Sea travel limited; provinces often isolated from Rome

Local Decision-Making

Governors and elites must decide without Rome’s immediate guidance

Senate vs. Strong Generals

Key conflict between republican authority and ambitious commanders

Julius Caesar’s Grievance

Caesar believes Senate cheated him of wealth and honors

Caesar’s Governorship

Caesar governs northern Italy and Gaul

Emergency Powers

Governors allowed to raise troops and taxes independently during crisis

Emergency Powers Abuse

Caesar ensures ongoing “crisis” to justify power use

Caesar’s Private Army

Troops become loyal to Caesar personally, not to the state

Illegal Taxation by Caesar

Collects taxes and distributes rewards under his own authority

Conquest of Gaul

Caesar conquers Gaul from the Alps to the Atlantic and Channel

Caesar’s Actions

Unconstitutional and illegal under republican law

Rubicon River

Boundary Caesar could not cross with troops without committing treason

Crossing the Rubicon

Caesar’s irreversible step launching civil war

Meaning of “Crossing the Rubicon”

Taking a dangerous, irreversible decision

Illegality of Crossing

No armed forces allowed in Rome; Caesar violates core republican law

Caesar Marches on Rome

Arrives with loyal troops, intimidating Senate

Caesar’s Rise to Power

Becomes dominant political figure in Rome

Princeps

Title meaning “first citizen,” granted to Caesar to hide monarchical power

Caesar’s Power Strategy

Uses patronage to appoint loyal officials across government

Patron–Client Government

Officials owe Caesar their careers and loyalty

Republican Shell

Institutions appear intact but Caesar controls all functions through client loyalty

Assassination of Caesar

Killers believe they are saving the Republic from unconstitutional power

Assassin Motivation

Caesar’s personal appointment system threatened republican checks

Julius Caesar’s View

He feels the Senate denied him rightful profit and honor

princeps

“Greatest citizen of the republic”