Western Civilization Q&A

Western Civ. Test 2 take home

C) First and Second Triumvirates

A Triumvirate is a political alliance involving three rulers, who divide the land and power among each other. The first Triumvirate involved Pompey; who was a popular general who crushed the Spanish Revolt. The second was Crassus; he was a wealthy noble with a lot of ambition and was very ruthless. Crassus owned all the fire stations in Rome, when a person needed his services he would let the fire burn until he was paid a sum of money to his likings. Crassus was unsuccessful in his military pursuits. The third was Julius Caesar; he was also a wealthy noble. He was very popular with the lower class. For a short period Caesar was the Governor of Spain, when he returned he was thrown a Triumph. All three men wanted to run for Consul, and all were denied by the Senate. They created the Triumvirate because they all had an Anti-Senate outlook, and by forming the Triumvirates they would all be able to take turns being Consul. They were Anti-Senate because the Senate had lost control over their generals and armies, and had little support from the people.

In 59 BC they formed the Triumvirate, and a year later made Caesar Consul. Caesar dominates the Consul, and is constantly seeking more power. In 50 BC Caesar invades Gaul (modern-day France). The Triumvirate had fallen apart by 49 BC; Crassus had died in battle in a military campaign again the Partheons in 53 BC. Julia, Caesars daughter who was married to Pompey had passed of natural causes. This was essentially the only thing connecting Caesar and Pompey together on good standings. When Caesar was away conquering lands, Pompey formed an alliance with the Senate. If Pompey outlawed Caesar, he’d be given the title of Consu...

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...tled in Italy and Judea. Many Roman rulers persecuted Christians, under Diocletian they weren’t even considered human, and outlawed from the Roman Empire. Diocletian claimed Christians as reprehensible for the fall of the Roman Empire. When Diocletian retired, Constantine took power and legalized Christianity, then became one himself. Christianity remained perennial even after the Empire fell because once it became widely accepted, due to its teachings on equality, forgiveness, and eternal happiness, many people enjoyed the idea that Jesus accepted sinners, and forgive them for their actions. This led many people to switch from polytheism to monotheism. Many people switched because they no longer believed in relying on pleasing the Gods to make their lives happier, but to figure out to make it better on their own. Christianity gave followers a sense of community.