Ancient Rome: Republic to Empire
Aligned to C3.D2.His.8 — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Rome began as a republic, where citizens elected officials called consuls and a Senate of leading men made policy, with checks meant to stop any one person from seizing total power. Over time, war, conquest, and ambitious generals strained the system until Rome became an empire ruled by a single emperor.
Worked example
General Julius Caesar seized power as dictator and was assassinated in 44 BCE by senators fearing he had become a king. The civil wars that followed ended when his heir Augustus became Rome's first emperor in 27 BCE, keeping the Senate's forms while holding real power himself.
Practice questions
- What were consuls and the Senate in the Roman Republic?
- Explain why the Roman Republic gradually turned into an empire.
- Some Romans saw Augustus as a peacemaker, others as the man who ended the Republic. Argue which view is more accurate.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
La Roma Antigua: De Republica a Imperio
Roma comenzo como una republica, en la que los ciudadanos elegian a funcionarios llamados consules y un Senado de hombres principales dictaba las politicas, con controles pensados para impedir que una sola persona tomara todo el poder. Con el tiempo, la guerra, la conquista y los generales ambiciosos tensaron el sistema hasta que Roma se convirtio en un imperio gobernado por un solo emperador.
Ejemplo: El general Julio Cesar tomo el poder como dictador y fue asesinado en el ano 44 a.C. por senadores que temian que se hubiera vuelto un rey. Las guerras civiles que siguieron terminaron cuando su heredero Augusto se convirtio en el primer emperador de Roma en el ano 27 a.C., conservando las formas del Senado mientras el ejercia el poder real.
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