Discuss the factors that led to the Decline of the Roman Republic and The rise of the Roman Empire

The
Roman Republic fell into decline for several reasons.

First, there was
massive corruption in the Senate.There were some who wanted to reform the land, like Tiberius
and Gaius Gracchus, but the brothers and assembly members were assassinated for suggesting that
land be evenly distributed.Additionally, the Republic was starting to lose control over its
military.With the first Roman Civil War and the rise of Sulla's army against General Marius'
army, the military went from being loyal to Rome to being loyal to whoever could pay them
more.When the rule of Rome went from the two consuls to a triumvirate (this happened twice), the
men in control fought over power and land.When Julius Caesar returned from eight years at war in
Gaul with his army, and he crossed the Rubicon river, he was declaring war on Rome.

All of these factors combined show a Rome that was weakening.They were dealing with
corruption, a breakdown in traditional leadership, and a significant change in the military
towards something more reminiscent of mercenaries.

The Roman Republic
officially fell in 27 BCE when Octavian, a member of the second triumvirate and related to
Julius Caesar, took sole control of Rome.His fellow consuls were chased out of power/killed.
When Octavian gained sole control he took the name Augustus Caesar, becoming Rome's first
emperor.This is when we recognize the switch from the Republic to the Empire.From this accession
to the fall of the Empire in 476 CE, only one emperor was in control at a
time.