Download Caesar Background - Spring Branch ISD

Julius Caesar
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Caesar had many advantages as a child. His family was of the
old patrician class of ____________ and they claimed to be
descendents of both Aeneas and ____________________, the
early heroes and founders of Rome.
Gaius Julius Caesar was born in _____________ BCE
Gaius was given a first class education in both Greek and Latin
and his family had prestige (but not _________________) in Roman society.
Julius Caesar told people that he spoke better Greek than Latin and he probably did. This would
come in handy as he moved throughout the Roman world.
Caesar as a young man was too often unsuccessful and unhappy; he married a woman he did
not love for her _________________ and family influence, he was given positions of power
which he did not ________________ or earn, and he lost a lot of money in failed business
ventures. It would have been hard to predict _________________ for him based on his early
life.
There were two defining moments in Caesar’s adult life that changed him:
o #1: On his way to _____________ in 75 BCE, Caesar was _________________ by the
famous and feared Cilician pirates. He told the pirates that they should either kill him or
ask for a higher _________________, because when he was free he would return and
kill them all. The pirates laughed. After the ransom was paid and Caesar was freed, he
raised a fleet, returned to the pirates lair, and captured them all. He had them crucified
just as he had promised to do when their prisoner!
o #2: While serving as governor in ______________ at age 32, Caesar visited a statue of
_____________________ the Great. Upon viewing this statue, Caesar fell to his knees,
weeping. When asked what was wrong, Caesar sighed, and said that by the time
Alexander was his (Caesar's) age, Alexander had conquered the
________________________________. All Caesar had done was marry a rich woman,
squandered her and his family’s immense wealth, and been appointed in a position
because Roman ____________________ and family connections.
Gaius Julius Caesar returned to ______________. He married again, borrowed money from new
wealthy supporters, and began to pursue a career in ____________. One way he did that was by
giving speeches to the poorer Romans and sponsoring expensive games and spectacles for the
___________________.
Caesar was given command of a Roman legion
in south Gaul (France) when he was ______
years old
From 58-51 BC Julius Caesar led his army all
over France, Belgium and even into England. He
conquered the entire land of Gaul and all its
warrior tribes.
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How did Caesar explain his success as a military leader and conqueror? With these simple
words: Veni, Vidi, Vici: I ___________, I __________, I ______________.
It was certainly MORE than that:
o Julius Caesar was a tactical genius and a brilliant general. He knew how to use his
Roman army to defeat every opponent.
o He was unmerciful in his punishment of the enemies of Rome. It is estimated that he
killed over ________________ people in Gaul (France) during his conquests there.
Julius Caesar was also an _____________ and spread his fame using the pen. He even wrote
down his exploits in a book that you can still read today. As reports of his victories and his book
reached Rome, all of Rome sang praises to Caesar!
Caesar was not the favorite of all the rich and powerful in Rome. They preferred
_____________________, Caesar’s former friend and now rival:
o In 49 BC, the Roman Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army and enter Rome as a
private citizen or they would declare him an “enemy of the state.” Caesar responded by
leading _______________ of his troops across the Rubicon and into Rome, starting a
___________________ war.
o Caesar destroyed his rival Pompey and had himself appointed ____________________
for life
o Pompey fled to _______________ and Caesar followed him. The Egyptians
presented Caesar with Pompey’s severed head when he arrived. The fight
was over!
o During his stay in Egypt Julius Caesar met and fell in love with
_____________________, the beautiful co-ruler of the country. They had a
child together and Caesar took them both back to Rome.
Caesar became famous for a quote he made which was finally about to come true.
He was asked his understanding of the best way to die. He answered: “Which death is
preferable to every other? The _____________________.”
Many of the ____________________________ of Rome thought Caesar was a dangerous man
who was living and ruling like a god. They thought he wanted to be a ____________, and they
did not believe in kings.
Even though Caesar refused the ______________, a band of rich men led by Brutus and Cassius
stabbed Caesar to death during a senate meeting on the Ides of March (March _________), 44
BC. He was _____________years old.
What conclusions can we make about Julius Caesar?
o GOOD THINGS:
 He increased the _______________ and power of Rome.
 He made necessary reforms in the corrupt Roman government.
 He created the _______________ calendar that we still use today in place of the
lunar.
 He had a magnetic personality and many talents: great politician, military
commander, writer, astronomer, and fantastic ____________ skills.
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 He was intelligent, ______________, and loved adventure.
o TERRIBLE THINGS:
 He not only killed two million _____________, but he ruthlessly eliminated his
political rivals through _________________.
 He led his army in civil war against the Roman state and defeated it.
 He pretended to like the common people when in fact he only wanted to use
them.
 He kept many mistresses and was not faithful to his wife.
 He had himself chosen ___________________ for life against all Roman
principles.
What do most historians think?
o They believe that Julius Caesar was an arrogant opportunist who lived by the sword
and……….. rightfully died by the _______________. He got what he deserved and what
he had given others: __________________.