From 73-71 BC a gladiator named Spartacus led a slave revolt in
southern Italy. Despite defeating the Romans on numerous occasions, the
slave army was eventually defeated by Marcus Crassus (with an
unsolicited assist from Pompey).
After Sulla's death two men emerged as the vanguard of Rome's new
political generation: Marcus Crassus who would become Rome's richest
man and Pompey the Great, who would become Rome's greatest general. In
a few years these two men would join forces with Julius Caesar to form
the first Triumvirate.
Sulla returned from the east and after winning a short Civil War was
made Dictator for Life. After purging his enemies and reorganizing the
consitution he inexplicably stepped down in 80 BC.