The Fall of the Roman Republic with Bryan Farrell

Rome was founded in or around 752 BCE. After a series of kings, in 509 BCE, the monarchy was overthrown and replaced by a republic. The republic provided for the election of government officials and a senate. But the struggle for power between the upper class and the ordinary people was a fire that never went out. The first century BCE was a violent period, marked by civil wars, foreign wars, an attempt to overthrow the government in 63 BCE, the ascent of Caesar as Dictator for Life, and finally, Caesar's assassination. But Caesar's assassins didn't have a plan for the aftermath, and a new civil war followed, involving such notable personalities as Augustus (Caesar's adopted son), Marc Antony, Cleopatra, Cicero, and Brutus. Augustus emerged victorious but the republic was dead, replaced by the reign of Emperors. This is how it happened.