Download Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar
• Patrician, educated, good speaker and politician
• Moved up ladder – power, wealth, popularity
– Governor of Spain, Consul, Governor of Gaul …
• Poor loved him, Senators feared his power
• Senate demands that he disband his army
• Caesar chose to “cross the Rubicon” with his army =
act of war (civil war) Jan 1, 49BC
Julius Caesar
(cont.)
• Caesar defeated Pompey (former ally, now rival) at
Battle of Pharsalus
• Caesar took total power in Rome (46 BC)
• Senate named him Dictator for 10 years, then for life
• Sweeping reforms made poor happy, Senators angry
– Expanded Senate to 900 men
– Citizenship to people in outlying provinces
– Public works programs = more jobs
• Senators feared Caesar’s increasing power,
assassinated him on March 15, 44BC
From Chaos to Empire
• Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian, and his top General,
Mark Antony, joined forces to kill Caesar’s murderers
• Then, Octavian vs. Mark Antony for sole rule of Rome.
At Battle of Actium (31 BC), Octavian won
• Senate gave title of “Augustus” (exalted one), became
Augustus Caesar
• Augustus
–
–
–
–
had total power (government, military)
was a smooth leader (people & Senate liked him)
became first Emperor of Rome
started Pax Romana – 200 years of Roman peace & prosperity
First Emperors of Rome
Name
+ Qualities
Augustus
Great leader
Roman values
Pax Romana
Tiberius
-stoic, unpopular
Good leader
Caligula
-insane, fat, bald,
murderer
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- Qualities
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Cause of Death Liked By
Old Age
Everyone
Picked Caligula to be
next Emperor
Smothered by
Caligula
No one
Killed most of family
Embarrassed Senate
Horse as Consul
Praetorian
Guard
Himself
Mushrooms
from Agrippina
Some
Stole people at weddings
Claudius
Ok Ruler
-skilled, but weak
Married Agrippina
Adopted Nero
Nero
-insane,
dangerous ruler
Killed mom, wives
Himself, with
Killed Christians
help
Beat up people
Public embarrassment
Rebuilt Rome
Himself