Download JULIUS CAESAR

JULIUS CAESAR
Key Question:
How should Caesar have been remembered by the people of Rome?
As Rome expanded, many wealthy
Romans neglected their civic duty.
What does this mean?
These wealthy Romans only thought
about gaining even more power and
wealth. This increased the
differences between rich and poor.
As a result, the threat of uprisings
grew.
Reformers tried to relieve these
problems. They wanted to break up
the huge estates and give land to
the poor. Wealthy landowners in
the Senate felt threatened and had
these reformers killed.
What effect do you think this would have had on the
Roman poor?
CIVIL WAR
During the 80’s B.C., two Roman leaders, Marius and Sulla
had clashed for power, causing a great deal of disorder and
violence.
Their clash resulted in a bloodbath as first Marius and then
Sulla killed the other’s supporters. Sulla eventually won.
While working to restore order to Rome, he became a
dictator and gave his friends in the Senate almost total
control over the military and the courts.
Giaus Marius was a Roman
general who fought for the
plebeians.
Sulla was a Roman general
who fought for the
Patricians.
After Sulla died Roman leaders in Spain tried to make
Roman leaders of foreign provinces equal in power to those
of the Senate. This revolt was put down by the Roman
general, Pompey.
All this coincided with the slave revolt led by Spartacus and
his army of 70,000 slaves and peasants. Pompey, along with
another Roman general, Crassus, put down the revolt.
https://safeshare.tv/x/ss58de648c14b03
Pompey
TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR NOTES: Describe the problems Rome faced during this time period.
Crassus
THE RISE OF CAESAR
Julius Caesar was born around the year 100 to a
wealthy Roman family. Caesar was said to be a
man with many talents and huge ambition for
power. Growing up he knew, that in order to gain
real power, he had to win it on the battlefield.
Julius Caesar proved himself as one of Rome’s great
generals during the Roman conquest of Gaul
(modern day France).
The Gauls were fierce fighters, but Caesar fought a
brilliant military campaign. Between a 7 year
period (58-51 B.C.), Caesar was able to conquer the
new lands and gain great wealth for Rome. His
victories brought him fame and fortune.
http://safeshare.tv/v/zMY-BxrCRX4
TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR NOTES: Describe how Caesar achieved
great fame and fortune throughout Rome.
The Siege of Alesia was the final major battle in Caesar’s
conquest of Gaul.
CAESAR’S RISE TO POWER
An alliance was formed between Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey with the plan to
gain total control of Rome. This alliance, known as the First Triumvirate, saw the
three powerful men try to restore Rome’s security. Caesar was given command of
Gaul. Crassus was given command of the army in the east, while Pompey’s army
stayed at home in Rome.
When Crassus was killed in battle a tremendous competition for power arose
between Caesar and Pompey. Both were influential generals of powerful Roman
military forces. Both had eyes on power and prestige throughout Rome.
Caesar was a brilliant commander and led his soldiers to many victories. He added
all the lands west of the Rhine River to the territory of Rome, including Britain.
Caesar dealt with the conquered Gauls very fairly. The soldiers and the people
loved him and wanted Caesar to be their leader.
The Roman Senate, which had been fearful of Pompey’s influence and power,
began to fear Caesar’s influence and power even more.
Caesar had a strong loyal army behind him. Caesar sought to gain Consulship
while he was still in Gaul in 48 B.C. The Senate declared Caesar a public enemy and
told him to disband his army. Caesar agreed to do so if Pompey did the same.
When Pompey refused,
Caesar marched with his army toward Rome.
http://safeshare.tv/w/gpCmcpoAsv
Roman Civil War
Caesar marched his army across the Rubicon river toward Rome. His illegal action
started another Roman Civil War.
In 46 B.C., Caesar returned home where he had support of the people and his army. That same
year, the Senate appointed him the sole Roman ruler. In 44 B.C., Caesar was named dictator
for life as opposed
to the usual six months.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQEdME1NtBg
Caesar addresses the Roman Senate
TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR NOTES: Describe
the series of events that led Julius Caesar to
be named dictator of Rome.
CAESAR’S REFORMS AND ASSASSINATION
“Beware the ides of March.”
GROUP INVESTIGATION
QUESTION
Was Caesar’s assassination
justified?
GUIDING QUESTIONS
PART 1
GUIDING QUESTIONS
PART 2
• What economic and
social reforms did
Julius Caesar create
while he was
dictator of Rome?
• Who were Caesar’s
enemies and why
were these people
against Caesar?
• What effect did
Caesar’s reforms
have on the people
On March 15, 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated
of Roman
by a group of Roman senators. The event took place territories?
1 month after Caesar was appointed dictator of
Rome for life.
• What reasons did
those responsible
for Caesar’s
assassination have
for killing him?
CAESAR’S REFORMS
Specific Examples:
• Increased penalties for crimes
• Creation of economic stability
• Gave Romans temporary relief from
rent
• Improvement of housing for the poor
• Improved the Roman welfare system
• Created building projects
• Created new jobs for non slaves
• Gave Greek doctors/educators Roman
citizenship and got government
involved in public education
• Granted citizenship to Gauls who were
loyal
• Granted tax breaks and freedom of
religion to Jews
• Limited the time served for governors of
provinces
• Improved the tax policies
• Changed the calendar
Inference arguments that are
pro Caesar’s reforms:
It appears that Caesar’s reforms serve the
interest of the Roman poor more so than the
rich. Caesar seemed to want to create
economic stability throughout the empire.
By allowing citizenship to Greek doctors and
educators, Caesar is promoting the idea of
education for more people, not just the
privileged few.
Creating harsher penalties for crimes could lead
to less crime throughout the empire.
Inference arguments that are against
Caesar’s reforms:
Caesar knows that limiting the terms for provincial
governors leads to a less likely chance of someone coming
to power, much like he did.
Granting freedoms to conquered people is a tactic for
control throughout the empire.
At first glance, the reforms seem helpful for all of Rome,
but could also be seen as self serving or a ploy to control
the masses, ensuring his ongoing tenure as dictator.
Those who were wealthy Romans view Caesar as the
reason for the end of the republic. The wealthy Romans
are at risk of losing power and prestige due to Caesar’s
reforms.
Assassination of Caesar
THE ATTACK
Caesar entered the Roman Senate building for a
normal meeting. Senators who would carry out
the attack stood near him. Without warning, the
Senators pulled out hidden daggers and went after
Caesar. Many of the senators injured themselves
or others in the process of attacking Caesar.
Caesar was stabbed 35 times and fell dead at the
foot of Pompey’s statue.
THE POLITICAL ENEMIES
Brutus had fought with Pompey during
the Roman Civil War. When Caesar
defeated Pompey he ordered that Brutus
not be harmed and allowed him to
return to his position of power in the
government.
Cicero was a Patrician Senator who opposed Caesar’s
grab for power. Cicero was a strong supporter of the
Republic.
CICERO
“A nation can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But
it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the
gates is less formidable, for his is known and carries his
banners openly. But the traitor moves among those within
Cassius, along with Brutus, was a Roman
the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through the alleys,
Senator. Both played major roles in the
heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor
assassination plot.
appears not a traitor. He speaks in accents familiar to his
victims, and he wears their face and garments, and he
appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the heart of all
men. He rots the soul of a nation. He works secretly and
Cassius hated Caesar the tyrant: Cassius
Brutus hated the tyranny of Caesar: Brutus
alone in the night to undermine the pillars of a city. He
dislikes Caesar as an individual cruel person
dislikes the repressive and cruel regime of
infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A
or ruler.
Caesar
murderer is less to be feared.” ~Cicero
BRUTUS
CASSIUS