what role did julius caesar play in the decline of the republic and the rise of the empire?

Question

think about

1. the problems facing the republic

2. how caesar helped restore order

3. caesar defiance of the senate

4. caesar rule as dictator

Answer 1

This looks like a homework help question, since you're basically putting your entire homework question in the posting.

I can help you with the frame of the response, and once you understand it, the rest will be a matter of little work for you.

The Roman Republic began in 505 BC as a rejection of the foreign monarchy of the Etruscans. The Roman citizens threw off the foreign yoke and the monarchical yoke at the same time, and were reluctant to allow a return to monarchy.

The Republic was governed by a Senate, a legislative body that was pretty good about handling the daily affairs of a small polity.

As Rome grew and fought more wars, it seemed necessary to have a chief to make quick decisions - and so the formerly minor office of Consul was made basically the head of government. The wealthy elected the Senators, and the Senators chose the Consul - or Consuls and later Proconsuls.

Caesar was a Consul, and a great one. He subdued the hostile tribes of Gauls (my ancestors) in modern France and Germany, and brought wealth and security to the Republic. And then, in defiance of tradition and law, he brought his army back into Rome (the crossing of the Rubicon) to resolve a dispute among Senators and Consuls.

He declared himself Princeps (first), and later Imperator, as I recall. A group of Senators, enraged at this betrayal of the Republic, rebelled and killed him. His nephew Octavius succeeded in putting down the rebel forces and established an Empire.

1 - Problems facing the republic included wars, budget deficits, and the difficulty of governing a large, growing state.

Ambitious men like Caesar rose through the army and challenged the rule of the old families.

2 - Caesar crossed the Rubicon.

3 - Technically, I think he extended his term as Consul. Really, try looking this up.

4 - Look to the reaction of the Senators, as compared to the common people. Caesar played to the galleries, wooing the people - know the phrase "bread and circuses?" - but the Senators may have had the best interests of the Republic at heard, despite their aristocratic leanings.

Answer 2

The reprublic was by 49 B.C. already an institution which was racked by so many problems, that it resempbled a sheet of paper with so many pencil holes in it. The empire was expanding and needed a new approach from the old senatorial system and the circus honorum(the career path of the senatorial class)
There was also a great degree of anarchy and banditary about and many men were kidnapped into someone's army never to be seen of again. Also there were generals and their armies who openly defied the senate and one, Sulla, actually marched on Rome itself. The republic was being torn apart by the civil wars and power plays within it.
What Ceasar did was, for a time, ended the civil wars and consolidated a unified rule under one dictator-himself. He enacted laws by which the calender was reformed, the marshes drained, the corn dole trimmed and general order was restored.
He completely smashed the armies of the old order, in any semblance, and established his own personal power base. This was totally apart from the old senatorial power base although he did continue to use the senatorial system.
Also the republic was basically ruled by the OPTIMARES-the Patricians. Ceasar, although an patrician, was a leading and eventually the leading member of the POPULARES-the Plebians' political party. Ceasar took the republic from the Patricians and put it into the hands of the Plebians and Equestrians(the business class) He destoyed by military and political means the power base of the old republic.
But something else Ceasar did which was far more deadly to the republic. He started a traditon, which become accepted, of the rule of one man, officially , for life. The beginnings of a dynasty.
After Ceasar died his popularity and his legions passed on the concept of not only the principle that one man could rule, but also the concept of a SUCSESSOR to Ceasar. A thing that his eventual sucsessor Octavian used to his great advantage.
So although the republic was tottering Ceasar gave it the felling blow. He gave the people what they wanted. Most of them anyway. He gave the Plebians more order and prosperity, more opportunities, he gave the Equestrian order more opportunities and prosperity and order and he gave many Senators(especially the ones he appointed) a safer opportunity without the strife that had occured previously. People were dissatisfied with the republic. Except for the old fuddy duddy dye in the wool consertatives like BRUTUS: CASSIUS: CASCA: THE SONS OF POMPEII (who had a more personal reason for opposing the new order) and others. He gave most people what they wanted and started the idea of WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A REPUBLIC.
And when Augustus won out all he had to do was declare the republic dead. Which he did on the 16th of January 27B.C.
But it was Julius who felled the republic that left it for Augustus only to deliver the final blow and declare the thing dead. Hope this helps.