From Republic to Empire: Did Augustus Save or Ruin the Republic?

1707 Words4 Pages

Philosopher A: Augustus saved the republic.

Philosopher B: Saved it? He turned it into an empire! Augustus ruined the republic.

Philosopher A: In the Republic, the Senate was the primary branch of the Roman government and held the majority of the political power. It controlled funds, administration and foreign policy, and had significant influence of the everyday life of the Roman people. When Augustus came to power, he kept the Senate and they retained their legal position. The Emperor’s rule was legitimized by the senate as he needed the senators experience to serve as administrators, diplomats and generals. Although technically the most authoritative individual in Rome, Augustus strived to embody Republican values. He wanted to relate and connect to all parts of society including Plebeians. Through generosity and less extravagance, Augustus achieved a connection with the common people.

Philosopher B: After the fall of the Roman Republic in 27BC, the fundamental power shifted from the Senate to Augustus, the Emperor. However, Augustus knew that to keep the favour of the Roman people, he needed to keep up the façade of the Senate holding political power. Despite this, the Senate held no actual political power, although individuals still sought membership of the senate for dignitas and social status. During the reigns of the first Emperors, legislative, judicial, and electoral powers were all transferred from the Roman assemblies to the Senate. However, since the Senate was filled with individuals whom Augustus approved of, it acted only as a vehicle through which the Emperor exercised his autocratic powers.
In the Empire, the Emperor had complete jurisdiction over all policies and decisions. In the beginnings of the empire, h...

... middle of paper ...

...gustus. (n.d.). The Internet Classics Archive | The Deeds of the Divine Augustus by Augustus. Retrieved March 28, 2014, from http://classics.mit.edu/Augustus/deeds.html
The Senate - Ancient Rome for Kids. (n.d.). The Senate - Ancient Rome for Kids. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from http://rome.mrdonn.org/senate.html
The Timeline of the Life of Octavian, Caesar Augustus. (n.d.). The Timeline of the Life of Octavian, Caesar Augustus. Retrieved March 27, 2014, from http://applet-magic.com/caesaraugustus.htm
 Virgil:Aeneid VI. (n.d.). Virgil:Aeneid VI. Retrieved March 27, 2014, from http://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/VirgilAeneidVI.htm#_Toc2242941 • The Official Truth – Propoganda in the Roman Empire . (n.d.). BBC News. Retrieved March 28, 2014, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/romanpropaganda_article_01.shtml

APA formatting by BibMe.org.

Show More
Related

  • The Res Gestae Divi Augustus: The Deeds Of The Divine Augustus

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Res Gestae Divi Augustus (‘The Deeds of the Divine Augustus’), also known simply as the Res Gestae was a catalogue of the achievements Augustus had made during his life, specifically those that had an obvious positive impact on the Roman people. It was written in 13-14AD (E.S. Ramage, 1987) and presented to the Vestal Virgins alongside Augustus’ will upon his death in 14AD (M.C. Howatson, 1937). The biography, which was carved into bronze pillars outside of Augustus’ mausoleum (M.C. Howatson, 1937), is split into 35 sections; each recognizing a separate part of Augustus’ excellence. The fifteenth, which will be discussed in this commentary, describes the notable largesses donated to the Roman people by Augustus throughout his

    Read More

  • The Political Decay of the Roman Republic

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ion this all showed that style of governing and ruling an empire started a century long pattern of events that eventually lead to the fall and destruction of the old oligarchy led by the Senate. The combination of desire for personal gain and glory of a politician or general was what weakened the Roman customs and the Senate. This was a cycle among the Senate, to find themselves stuck in a problem and to find others to fix with of course military means but in turn make everything more corrupt with their disruptive practices such as Pompey and Julius Caesar. But they were not the only ones there were others who were to blame for causing such decay and corruption such as Marius, Sulla, Gaius and Tiberius Gracchus. They were the ones who kept this corruption cycle going and it was Augustus Caesar who finally broke the cycle and brought stability and order back to Rome.

    Read More

  • The Rape of Lucretia

    1982 Words  | 4 Pages

    3)Gwynn, David M. The Roman Republic: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012. Print.

    Read More

  • The Rise Of The Roman Republic

    830 Words  | 2 Pages

    With the problems starting with the dissolution of the first triumvirate and the actions of Julius Caesar, it seemed almost inevitable that the Republic would become an Empire. With the death of the true republican, Cicero, and many not remembering what the republic was like, giving power to the capable and honorable man seemed as if the best answer. Furthermore, if the Rome continue to remain a Republic the Senate could not have maintained the success or power that the Empire held. The ambition of one man made it easy to continue the growth whereas, many of the policies and disputes the country faced had face might have taken to long or complicated had the republic

    Read More

  • Rome in The Age of Augustus

    2200 Words  | 5 Pages

    414-443. Antony Kamm The Romans: An Introduction Second Edition, Published in 2008, pages 47, 93. Dio Cassius Roman History (as presented in Antiquity 2). Augustus (Octavian) Res Gestae Divi Augusti (as presented in Antiquity 2). Eck, The Age of Augustus, p.45 (as presented in Antiquity 2).

    Read More

  • Essay On Defensive Imperialism

    2084 Words  | 5 Pages

    Those elected to leadership were admitted in the Senate where public affairs were discussed. Power divisions during the time were complicated and no single person was entitled to too much power. Tribunes, which comprised of ten men, were put into place in order to monitor the Senate and ensure that the interests of the people were protected. However, this system began to fall apart since certain individuals wanted to have more power than others. Such persons started to compete for that power, and use it to exploit Rome’s politics. Subsequently, competition for power led to civil wars that paved the way to the growth of a one-man leadership. Gradually, dictatorship replaced republic government, and when Augustus rose to power, he became the sole and undisputed leader of Rome.

    Read More

  • Essay On Roman Republic

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 509 B.C. the Romans declared themselves a republic, free from rule of the Etruscan kings. (“The Rise of…”) From that point on, the Roman’s form of government would never include the title of “king”, in fear that a single person would gain absolute power. The republic included a dictator (in emergencies), the senate, two consuls, and several other positions. (Bishop) Although the goal of creating a republic was to have a government that represented the wishes of its people, the Roman senate consisted of men of wealth or power, leaving most of the plebeians, or common people, out of the picture. Many of the emperors’ policies strengthened the power of the government, and therefore weakened the power of the plebeians. By the end of Sulla’s rule in 78 B.C., grain prices had risen substantially and there was large gap between the rich and poor. (“The Rise of…”) When Julius Caesar took power, he initiated several reforms that were much needed at the time. Caesar spent large volumes of money on entertaining the citizens, while expanding citizenship to people of conquered lands and lessening the power of the senate. His policies threatened the method of income of senators and around 60 senators, in the name of saving the republic, murdered Julius Caesar at a senate hearing in 44 B.C. Civil war then erupted in Rome and lasted over a decade. At the end of the blood brawl, it was Octavian who emerged victorious; he would be the first Roman Emperor and would be known as Augustus. (Morey) Although the “Liberators” (Julius Caesar’s assassins), might not have realized it, the day that Julius Caesar died was the same day that the republic died; t...

    Read More

  • American Constitutionalism Essay

    1880 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rather than creating a government that was primarily a democracy like the Athenians, an aristocracy or a monarchy, the Roman constitution mixed these three elements, therefore creating three separate branches of government. The executives served as monarchical element, the Senate as the aristocratic and finally, the Assembly as the democratic element. A complex set of checks and balances existed between these three branches. The Executive branch enforced the law, and presided over the Senate and the legislative assemblies. They had supreme civil and military authority and held office for one year, then entered the Senate for life unless impeached. The Senate was a collection of citizens who served as the legislative branch of the government as well as an advisory body. Lastly, there was the Assembly of Tribes, which contained all citizens. Romans believed that authority comes from the people and the people 's consent is necessary, therefore, the Assembly was responsible for approved or rejected laws, decided issues of war and peace, and elected executive magistrates. Besides check and balance and separation of powers, many other concepts from Roman republicanism shaped American constitutionalism. The power to veto and filibusters, the practice of term limit, impeachment, and regularly scheduled elections were all included in the Roman’s unwritten

    Read More

  • Rise of the Roman Republic

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    Marcel Le Glay, Jean-Louis Voisin, Yann Le Bohec. A History of Rome. West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.

    Read More

  • The Rome Republic: The Power Of The Roman Republic

    1534 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Roman Republic is highly praised for the innovation, influence and expansion that it had on the rest of the world. In a period of expansion there was also a setting of constitutional precedent for the future late Republic and Roman Empire. The Roman Republic can also be viewed from the perspective of internal balances of power. That being said, although the Roman Republic as not a full democracy, as stated by Polybius, it did provide some political power to the people. Constitutionally, the Roman people played a large role in politics, but said power was limited through checks of the Senate and Consul, an most positions of power were very concentrated in the hands of Patricians and aristocrats, who can be seen as upper citizens in Rome.

    Read More

  • Why Did Augustus Change Over Time

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    Augustus wanted to turn the republican government in Rome into an imperial government controlled by an emperor. This would be a difficult change to make, as the Romans did not want to be ruled by a tyrant. Therefore, he had to gain support from all groups. In the Res Gestae, Augustus writes, “I paid each Roman plebeian 300 sesterces from my inheritance… I bought grain with my own money and distributed twelve rations a piece.” This shows how he tried to gain support from the working class citizens. He also had to be extra careful not to seem like a tyrant, so he resigned from all offices to show his supposed lack of political ambition after he gained some power. To ensure there was no more chaos in Rome, Augustus was kind to foreign countries so that they did not declare war on the Romans. He did so through his foreign policy. In his Res Gestae, he states, “Representatives from the kings of India were often sent to me… and kings from many other lands along our borders sought our friendship by sending

    Read More

  • Was Augustus Caesar Revolutionary

    1176 Words  | 3 Pages

    He claimed that he had transferred the Republic from his own power to that of the authority of the Senate. Because of this gesture the Senate adored him. They honored him. The people saw him as the restorer of peace and the Republic. When all along his goal was to hide his real power and legalize it. The historian Tacticus wrote, “He took on himself the functions of the Senate, the magistrates, and the laws”. Augustus did not derive his power from his titles or positions. He derived his power from his army’s loyalty and his ability to eliminate rivals. (Page

    Read More

  • How Democratic Was The Roman Republic Essay

    600 Words  | 2 Pages

    Much like the US, the Roman Republic had three branches of government: the Consuls, the Senate, and the Assemblies. The Roman government had three elements, each of them possessing independent powers. The Consuls were the “supreme leaders” of the government, and they were the wealthy magistrates of Rome. The Senate proposed laws, just as the Senate in the US government does. Now the part left to the people, the Assemblies. The people could vote for who got into the Assemblies, where they had the final say in the making of a law. This clearly shows how similar the Roman Republic’s government is to the US’s, each of them elements having checks and balances and the people choosing who

    Read More

  • How Did Augustus Influence Julius Caesar

    1436 Words  | 3 Pages

    The people of Rome had lived as a republic for a long time and gave security to their freedom, however with what the people had experience and gained because of Julius Caesar and Augustus this might’ve changed. According to Suetonius who was the secretary to Emperor Hadrian that after the overthrow of Antony Augustus asked Agrippa a Roman consul, statesman, general and architect and Maecenas the political advisor to Augustus about restoring the republican with Agrippa in favour and Maecenas against. Suetonius says that Augustus at first sided with restoring the republican but then decides to usurp himself the entire dominion of the state. He mentions that as a result of the civil war and public calamities that the people were becoming less averse to the idea of an absolute government and that whilst the republican had flourished that it was incompatible with the state of Rome at the time (Suetonius). Although Suetonius was born a while after Augustus because of his position he would have had access to good information though some of it might be unreliable however he is very open on the idea between a republican or absolute government looking at both sides and the circumstance of Rome. Because of the changing views of the people and the circumstances of Rome, Augustus was able to obtain power as the emperor of Rome during the first

    Read More

  • Augustus Octavian Analysis

    1111 Words  | 3 Pages

    His successor was approved by the Senate and his line of succession was secured without the impotent Senate ever posing a real threat. Though Augustus filled all the criteria for a perfect Roman citizen in theory, his actual motivations were based on ambition and furthering his personal goals. Cicero and all the other senators saw, in Augustus, a future lead by the antithesis of all that they believed in. The rise of Augustus, and by extension the rise of the Roman Empire, shows that how a person presents themselves and what their actual intentions are, can be vastly

    Read More

More about From Republic to Empire: Did Augustus Save or Ruin the Republic?

Open Document