ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the relationship between Roman society and the growing empire, with particular emphasis on tensions which had developed by the time of Caesar's birth. In fact, the Romans were vitally conscious of being an imperial people. The primary meaning of the Latin word imperium is 'military command', though it often refers to the territory over which Roman generals exercised military command and thus provides our English word 'empire'. An early focus upon imperium should serve to emphasize not only the struggles for military command, which were a normal part of Roman elite behavior, but also the effects of conquering the empire. The chapter consists of three parts: a short description of the growth of Rome's empire in the second century BCE; an account of relationship between Roman society and the growing empire and an outlines of some of the political consequences of Rome's acquisition of an empire.
