In 509 BC, the Roman republic was created and it was the beginning of a super power. The Romans overthrew the Etruscan rule and created their own country; with memories of ruthless kings, Romans decided upon a representative democracy vowing never to have a king. In times of crisis Roman law allowed for a dictator to take control of Rome for a period of 6 months maximum.
Voting in the Republic heavily favored the Rich and the rich tended to pass laws that protected their own interests and profits. The power that many patriarchs wielded lured the high-ranking army officials who were hungry and cold to conquer their own capital and seize the ability to rule.
In 133 BC, Tiberius Graccus was a general in the Roman army and grandson to Scippio Africanus who championed the poor and soldiers. Tiberius wanted the Senate to allow for the poor and soldiers to receive public land. The Senators did not look to kindly upon Graccus’ plans to erode their power base, so the Senators along with other wealthy nobles had Tiberius and later Tiberius’ brother Gaius and their hundreds of their followers murdered.
Around the first century BC there were slave revolts in Sicily and southern Italy. In 88 BC Two generals were at war, Luscious Sulla was victorious and he abolished the 6-month term of dictators, making the term indefinite. Sulla set the way for dictatorship even though the Senators beat Sulla to death as he was preaching to the poor.
Julius Caesar in 59 BC became the General of Gaul, the senate so afraid of his popularity ordered Julius to disband his army and return to Rome. Instead of disbanding his army, Julius created the first triumvirate. The first triumvirate consisted of Julius Caesar, Marcus Crassus and Gnaeus Pompey: 3 popular General who combined their knowledge and skill in order to rule Rome. When Crassus was killed fighting in the Middle East a civil war broke out in between Pompey and Caesar, Caesar won. In 49 BC, Julius was the sole ruler of Rome; he won a number of battles on the southern coast of the Mediterranean.
