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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