JULIUS CAESAR100 – 44 B.C.E

On March 15, 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group

of Roman senators. The event took place 1 month after Caesar

was appointed dictator of Rome for life.

Julius Caesar

Hero to the people of Rome?or

Enemy to the Roman Republic?

WHAT ARE SOME POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT COULD THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN REPUBLIC HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF CONQUERING SO MUCH LAND?

PROBLEMS IN THE REPUBLIC

• Large slave population throughout Roman territory that leads to multiple slave revolts

• Growing gap between the Roman wealthy and poor

• Growing problems for Roman plebeians

• Reformers who attempted to change things for the better for Plebeians kept being killed by the Roman elite

• Roman generals using military victory to gain political power and influence

https://safeshare.tv/x/ss58de648c14b03

Giaus Marius was a Roman general who fought for the plebeians.

Sulla was a Roman general who fought for the Patricians.

PompeyCrassus

TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR NOTES: Describe the problems Rome faced during this time period.

https://safeshare.tv/my/safeviews/xfZEM4LHO-c/play

THE RISE OF CAESARJulius 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.

When Caesar was 25 years old he was kidnapped while sailing in the Aegean Sea by pirates. Upon capture, the pirates demanded a ransom of 20 talents of silver. To this demand, Caesar laughed in the pirates faces telling them they obviously had no idea who they had captured. Caesar told the pirates to raise their demand to 50 talents because of his importance. Caesar later managed to capture his captives and had the pirates executed.

Julius Caesar proved himself as one of Rome’s great generals during the Roman conquest of Gaul (modern day France), in a campaign known as the Gallic Wars (58 – 51 B.C.E.)

The eventual conquest of Gaul added valuable land to the expanding empire. Caesar’s fame and power grew exponentially as a result of the conquest.

The Siege of Alesia: September 52 B.C.E.This was the last major military engagement during the Gallic Wars, and seen as one of Caesar’s greatest accomplishments. Over 40,000 Gaul’s were killed during the siege. The area known as Gaul was now completely under the control of the Roman Republic.

Rome would dominate the region for the next 500 years.

CAESAR’S RISE TO POWERAn 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. The senate ultimately favored Pompey and pressured him to engage

Caesar’s forces.

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.

Caesar marched his army across the Rubicon river toward Rome. His illegal action started another

Roman Civil War. http://safeshare.tv/w/gpCmcpoAsvRoman 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 dictator for a 10 year period. In 44 B.C., he was named dictator for life.

The Battle of Pharsalus: An outnumbered force led by Caesar defeated Pompey’s army in a decisive victory.

Caesar address to Roman Senatehttps://safeshare.tv/x/ss5cbf184bda2d7#

CAESAR’S REFORMS AND ASSASSINATION

On March 15, 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group

of Roman senators. The event took place 1 month after Caesar

was appointed dictator of Rome for life.

GROUP INVESTIGATION QUESTION

Enemy of the State?

or

Hero to the People?

GUIDING QUESTIONS PART 2

• What economic and

social reforms did Julius

Caesar create while he

was dictator of Rome?

• What effect did Caesar’s

reforms have on the

people of Roman

territories?

GUIDING QUESTIONS PART 1

• Who were Caesar’s

enemies and why were

these people against

Caesar?

• What reasons did those

responsible for Caesar’s

assassination have for

killing him?

“Beware the ides of March.”

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

CICERO

Cicero was a Patrician Senator who opposed Caesar’s grab for power. Cicero was a strong supporter of the Republic.

“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 the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor 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 alone in the night to undermine the pillars of a city. He infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared.” ~Cicero

BRUTUS CASSIUS

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.

Cassius, along with Brutus, was a Roman Senator. Both played major roles in the assassination plot.

Brutus hated the tyranny of Caesar Cassius hated Caesar the tyrant

https://safeshare.tv/my/safeviews/ZxXgpSLVha8/play

CAESAR’S REFORMSSpecific 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 to beautify

Rome

• 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 from lunar to

solar calendar. This calendar system

has gone almost unchanged since.

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.