Final answer:
The civil war during the late Roman Republic transitioned Rome from a republic to an empire, with military leaders like Sulla using armies for political gains. Social changes and the rise of career soldiers loyal to generals undermined traditional values, leading to civil wars and the eventual autocratic rule of Augustus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The civil war during the late Roman Republic signifies a period of dramatic change, where Rome transitioned from a republic with allegedly strong and stable institutions, to an empire under the control of fewer, powerful leaders. Sulla's march on Rome in 88 BCE was a pivotal moment, setting a precedent for military leaders to use their armies for political gains.
This culminated in the First and Second Triumvirates that further destabilized the republic, as leaders like Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great manipulated political institutions to their benefit.
The social transformation was immense as the traditional Roman citizen-soldier, tied to the land and the Republic, was replaced by career soldiers loyal to generals rather than to the state.
This allowed military leaders to accumulate unprecedented power. The socioeconomic landscape further contributed to instability, where protracted wars and the rise of a landless proletariat in Rome undermined traditional republican values and structures. The wars abroad and Sulla's actions corroded the fabric of Roman society and government, culminating in civil wars and setting the stage for the autocratic rule of Augustus and the birth of the Roman Empire.