The Roman Empire

 

 

As Roman power grew great wealth came to Rome. The army generals began to compete for control of the Republic, and civil war began to flare up across the Roman world. Julius Caesar  was one of these ambitious leaders. He defeated his rivals and became the sole ruler of Rome in 45 BC. But his rule was short-lived; his enemies in the senate feared he would become a king and murdered him.  Civil war continued until Caesar's nephew, Octavian, won out over the other contenders for power, like Mark Antony.   Octavian, later called Augustus, was the first emperor.