What are the Four main factors that weakened the Roman Republic?
The Roman Republic fell
under the weight of imperial expansion. The central government had
become dysfunctional, and lost control over the provinces
(conquered territories). The governors of the provinces became
unruly and treated their provinces as if they were their personal
fiefs. Tax collection in the provinces was carried out by private
collectors who 'farmed' the taxes to line their pockets through
extortion, which created discontent in the provinces, Corruption
was rampant. A reform of military recruitment made the soldiers
loyal to the commanders of their legions who could use them to
obtain what they wanted through the threat of or the use of
military violence. In 71 BC Crassus and Pompey camped their troops
outside Rome to have themselves elected as consuls (the two
annually elected heads of the Republic). Pompey was not even
eligible on the grounds of being below the required age and of not
having served some public offices which were required before the
consulship. In the last 64 years of the Republic there were 12
civil wars. In 88 BC Sulla entered the city of Rome with his troops
during his first civil war against forces of Marius, even though
Roman religion forbade the bearing of arms within the city
walls.
Another problem in the
Late Republic was the increase in the number of dispossessed
peasants who lost their land to the expanding large landed estates
which used slaves, who were war captives. These people flocked to
Rome to try to eke out a living, swelling the masses of the poor in
the city. The problem of poverty became a political hot potato
which led to the conflict between the populares and the optimates.
The former was a political faction which championed the cause of
the poor and tried to introduce reforms to help them. The latter
was a conservative political faction which favoured the aristocracy
and opposed reforms. The senators were seen as being concerned with
the interests of the aristocracy, rather than those of the poor and
were unpopular among the middle and lower classes. They were also
seen as being corrupt. Many of the civil wars were related to
clashes between strong military leaders and the conflict between
populares and optimates spilling into violence.
Julius Caesar waged a
civil war against the forces of the senate and assumed sole power
in Rome (the Republic was normally headed by two annually elected
consuls) for five years and tried to tackle Rome's problems.
However, he was assassinated. More civil wars followed his death.
Augustus won the final civil war of the Republic, which was a fight
with Marc Antony over who would become the sole ruler of Rome and
her territories. He gained control over the army and amassed great
wealth through the spoil of war. He used both to establish his own
absolute rule and became the first Roman emperor. His tight control
over the state restored a strong central government and political
stability. Rule by emperors continued for 503 years