Download Julius Caesar history before play

Events leading up to 44 BC (time of Julius Caesar)
 Monarchy—
 Until 509 BC
 Republic—
 The Brutus family removed the king
in 509 BC
 In reality, a group of patricians were
ruling Rome
 Moderate Democracy
 100 BC
 Actually ruled by Senate
 Julius Caesar is a patrician, but gains
support of the people by spending money
for public entertainment and establishing
laws freeing farmers and tradesmen from
heavy taxes
 Triumvirate
 In 60 BC a 3-man rule was established
 Caesar, Crassus, Pompey
 In 58 BC Caesar became governor of a part of
Gaul
 At age 44 he began his military career
 Over the next 10 years he conquered all of Gaul
 Crassus was killed during a military campaign in
Parthia
 Pompey and Caesar were at odds after
Crassus’ death
 Pompey persuaded the Senate to order
Caesar to disband his army and return to
Rome
 Caesar invaded Rome and made himself
absolute ruler
 Pompey fled to Greece
 Caesar defeated Pompey’s army at
Pharsalia in 48 BC
 Pompey fled to Egypt where he was later
murdered
 Three years later Caesar defeated
Pompey’s two sons at Munda, Spain
 Caesar is now dictator
 The play opens with Caesar returning
from the victory in Spain—44 BC