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Title: A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF JULIUS CAESAR Author: Sandra LeBeau Possible Subject Areas: Ancient History, Biography Course Level: 100 Main Quantitative Skills: •
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Critical reading Recognizing fallacies Use of historical geography Overview: This activity involves the reading of a short biography of Julius Caesar including two parts: (a) a brief synopsis which focuses on his significance in history and (b) a short summary of the his military triumphs in Europe and his return to Rome in 49BC which ultimately led to his death. The historical and geographic information has been altered intentionally. The students are asked to read the article critically to identify errors of varying degrees of difficulty in detection. Students will not only be asked to identify numerous errors in the material but also to give the reasons for each of the fallacies which they uncover. These fallacies include: • Errors in BC time • Sequence of events • Historical and geographic terminology • Political science concepts • Context of historical figures, monuments, and periods Background Information: Ancient history through 44 BC Student Learning Objectives: • Critical Reading Skills • Geographic knowledge of Western Europe • Historical Geography • Progression of BC Times • Reading Roman Numerals • Ordering Events MAIN ACTIVITY: Gaius Julius Caesar: His Place in History A politician of the populares tradition, he formed an unofficial triumvirate with Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus which dominated Roman politics for several years. His conquest of Gaul extended the Roman world all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, and he also conducted the first Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC. Leading his legions across the Rubicon, Caesar began a civil war in 49 BC from which he became the undisputed master of the Roman world. Comment [s1]: Indian After assuming control of government, he began extensive reforms of Roman society and government. He was proclaimed dictator for life (dictator perpetuus), and heavily centralized the bureaucracy of the Republic. However, a group of senators, led by Caesar's former friend Marcus Junius Brutus, assassinated the dictator on the Ides of March (March 15) in 44 BC, hoping to restore the normal running of the Republic. The result was another Roman civil war, which ultimately led to the establishment of a permanent autocracy by Caesar's adopted heir, Gaius Octavianus. Much of Caesar's life is known from his own Commentaries (Commentarii) on his military campaigns, and other contemporary sources such as the letters and speeches of his political rival Cicero. Comment [s2]: Empire Comment [s3]: democracy Comment [s4]: Homer Reign Full name Born Birthplace Died Place of death October, 49 BC–March 15, 44 BC Gaius Julius Caesar 12 July C BC or CII BC Rome, Roman Republic 15 March 44 BC (aged 56) Rome, Roman Republic Predecessor Lucius Cornelius Sulla (as Dictator of the Roman Republic) Comment [s5]: XLIV Comment [s6]: XLIX Comment [s7]: Empire Details of His Triumph and Downfall: 63BC‐44BC 63 BC was an eventful year for Caesar. He ran for election to the post of chief priest of the Roman state religion. In 59 BC, Caesar attained the consulship and special command in Gaul. He created an informal alliance with his former rivals Pompey and Crassus, known as the First Triumvirate. The peace between rivals didn’t last long and Caesar left to campaign in Central and Northern Gaul. He even took his troops across the English Channel to campaign in Britain. Caesar’s successes in battle made him very popular with troops. The Senate feared his increasing popularity and ordered him to surrender his command. On January 10, 49 AD Caesar crossed the Rubicon (the frontier boundary of Italy) with only one legion and ignited civil war. Upon crossing the Rubicon, Caesar is reported to have quoted the Athenian playwright Menander, saying alea iacta est, "the die is cast". Comment [s8]: France Comment [s9]: Bi Comment [s10]: Strait of Gibraltar Comment [s11]: Greek Comment [s12]: Herodotus
Comment [s13]: Veni, Vidi, Vici In 48 BC Caesar made himself dictator, a traditional Roman title for a temporary emergency ruler. During this time, he undertook a complete overhaul of the old Roman calendar and established a 365‐day year with a leap year every fourth year. The month of July is named after Julius in his honor. Subsequent to this, Caesar started to use public taxpayers' money for his own glorification. Along with many other public works, he built the monuments of himself: Forum of Caesar, and Temple of Venus Genetrix. This excessive spending incensed certain members of the Roman Senate. One of these was Caesar's closest friend, Marcus Junius Brutus. Brutus began to conspire against Caesar with his friend and brother‐in‐law Cassius and other men, calling themselves the Liberatores. On the Ides of March (March 15) of 44 BC, a group of senators called Caesar to the forum for the purpose of reading a petition, written by the senators, asking him to hand power back to the Senate. As Caesar began to read the false petition, the assassination took place. Caesar was stabbed 23 times. Comment [s14]: Gregorian calendar
Comment [s15]: Parthenon Comment [s16]: Ziggurat of Ur Comment [s17]: Cruisaders. Comment [s18]: agora The dictator's last words are not known with certainty. The version best known in the English‐
speaking world is the Latin phrase Et tu, Brute? ("even you, Brutus?" or "you too, Brutus?"); this derives from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. References: 1. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/europe_814_colbeck.jpg 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar Comment [s19]: Italian Comment [s20]: Virgil