The question of what could of caused the downfall of the powerful Roman Republic is a well known question. There are many events and causes that could of lead to such a crushing defeat for the Republic, but a few known things are the main cause. It is well known that Rome had always been a huge power in the western world and even held control of most of the known world for its time. However, the surface of Rome seemed to hide the growing madness, corruption, and bloodshed that was used to pave the way for the dying Republic.
The first cause for the downfall of the Roman Republic could be highlighted by the failing government system that was in place. Laws could be put in place by the senate and who ever held the most power, and easily undone …show more content…
In fact they only seemed to add to the growing problems the Republic could not keep hidden from the populace. This was especially prominent during Sulla’s reign as he used bloodshed as his means of gaining control over Rome and installing fear in the senate. He easily did this when he “he published lists of individuals who were thus automatically condemned to death without trail,” (116.) This mass killing of people who Sulla felt threatened his complete rule over Rome was a step toward losing any strings that connected Rome to a Republic and not a monarchy, which the Rome’s loathed more than anything else. This mass killing in the public eye also exposed the populace to public executions. However, violence was always the go to step for any political problems that could not be talked out in a civilized manner. This is also seen with Clodius when he got Pompey and Gabinius “physically assaulted…and the consul’s faces smashed,” (142.) Over something as simple as Eastern policies that they did not agree on. Violence is also used with the killing of Julius Caesar who the senate felt was getting too powerful, even though they gave him all the power he wanted. With the use of violence anyone can gain supreme power, as seen with Octavian, and have no need for something as silly as a republic where they need to consult others for laws and the like. For Rome, the end of the Republic was unenviable and happened on 43 BCE, with the death of Brutus because he supported the republic until the
The first cause for the downfall of the Roman Republic could be highlighted by the failing government system that was in place. Laws could be put in place by the senate and who ever held the most power, and easily undone …show more content…
In fact they only seemed to add to the growing problems the Republic could not keep hidden from the populace. This was especially prominent during Sulla’s reign as he used bloodshed as his means of gaining control over Rome and installing fear in the senate. He easily did this when he “he published lists of individuals who were thus automatically condemned to death without trail,” (116.) This mass killing of people who Sulla felt threatened his complete rule over Rome was a step toward losing any strings that connected Rome to a Republic and not a monarchy, which the Rome’s loathed more than anything else. This mass killing in the public eye also exposed the populace to public executions. However, violence was always the go to step for any political problems that could not be talked out in a civilized manner. This is also seen with Clodius when he got Pompey and Gabinius “physically assaulted…and the consul’s faces smashed,” (142.) Over something as simple as Eastern policies that they did not agree on. Violence is also used with the killing of Julius Caesar who the senate felt was getting too powerful, even though they gave him all the power he wanted. With the use of violence anyone can gain supreme power, as seen with Octavian, and have no need for something as silly as a republic where they need to consult others for laws and the like. For Rome, the end of the Republic was unenviable and happened on 43 BCE, with the death of Brutus because he supported the republic until the