Caesar and Rome Background Two thousand years ago, the world was ruled by Rome. From England to Africa and from Syria to Spain, one in every four people.

Caesar and Rome Background

Caesar and Rome Background

Two thousand years ago, the world was ruled by Rome. From England to Africa and from Syria to Spain, one in every four people on earth lived and died under Roman law.

Two thousand years ago, the world was ruled by Rome. From England to Africa and from Syria to Spain, one in every four people on earth lived and died under Roman law.

The Roman Empire at 44 BCat the death of Caesar

The Roman Empire at 44 BCat the death of Caesar

Compare these two maps. The one on the left shows territories held by Rome before Caesar came to power; the map on the right shows how much Caesar expanded Roman territory.

Another way to compare the growth of the Roman Empire.Another way to compare the growth of the Roman Empire.

Monarchy to EmpireMonarchy to Empire• Rome could not

handle its own size and power

• Romans spent centuries debating and fighting civil wars while trying to decide on the most effective type of government

• Rome could not handle its own size and power

• Romans spent centuries debating and fighting civil wars while trying to decide on the most effective type of government

Roman Forum

A Brief History of Roman Government

A Brief History of Roman Government

Monarchy: overthrown in 509 BCERepublic: 509 – 100 BCETriumvirate (3-man rule): 60-48 BCEDictatorship: 48 BCE until fall of

Rome (apx. 476 CE/AD)

Monarchy: overthrown in 509 BCERepublic: 509 – 100 BCETriumvirate (3-man rule): 60-48 BCEDictatorship: 48 BCE until fall of

Rome (apx. 476 CE/AD)

Question: Which forms of Roman government lasted the longest?

Roman RepublicRoman

Republic• Being a citizen of the

Roman Republic meant that you could travel and trade throughout the entire area ruled by Rome.

• All conquered people had the opportunity to become citizens.

• Being a citizen of the Roman Republic meant that you could travel and trade throughout the entire area ruled by Rome.

• All conquered people had the opportunity to become citizens.

Republican GovernmentRepublican Government

• SPQR= Senatus Populus Que Romanus (Senate and the People of Rome)

• Patricians = wealthy nobles• Plebians = everybody else

• The Roman Republic was ruled by a Senate and the People

• SPQR= Senatus Populus Que Romanus (Senate and the People of Rome)

• Patricians = wealthy nobles• Plebians = everybody else

• The Roman Republic was ruled by a Senate and the People

Senate: (Patricians)

• Headed by 2 elected Consuls (1 year term) • Proposed laws, oversaw officials, and

elected the consuls• Dealt with foreign affairs and the military

People (plebians) • organized by tribes• elected 10 tribunes• governed local affairs

Senate: (Patricians)

• Headed by 2 elected Consuls (1 year term) • Proposed laws, oversaw officials, and

elected the consuls• Dealt with foreign affairs and the military

People (plebians) • organized by tribes• elected 10 tribunes• governed local affairs

Corruption in the SenateCorruption in the Senate

• Expanded wealth and territory through a series of foreign wars

• Generals became more powerful, they began to ignore the Senate

• Internal corruption & conflict wracked the Senate

• Expanded wealth and territory through a series of foreign wars

• Generals became more powerful, they began to ignore the Senate

• Internal corruption & conflict wracked the Senate

Enter…Julius Caesar!Enter…Julius Caesar!

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar• Born into an aristocratic family

around 100 BCE• Entered military and rose quickly

through the military and political ranks• General• Consul • Governor of Gaul

• Was a ruthless conqueror• Wanted to return Rome to an

uncorrupt republic.

• Born into an aristocratic family around 100 BCE

• Entered military and rose quickly through the military and political ranks• General• Consul • Governor of Gaul

• Was a ruthless conqueror• Wanted to return Rome to an

uncorrupt republic.

*I came, I saw, I conquered

First TriumvirateFirst Triumvirate

• Caesar allied himself with two other political figures:• Crassus - wealthy nobleman• Pompey the Great - general

• Crassus and Pompey were rivals, but Caesar was able to bring them together

• Caesar was Governor of Gaul (modern-day France); recruits soldiers & subdues rest of population

• Crassus killed in battle, sets off a power struggle between Pompey & Caesar

• Caesar allied himself with two other political figures:• Crassus - wealthy nobleman• Pompey the Great - general

• Crassus and Pompey were rivals, but Caesar was able to bring them together

• Caesar was Governor of Gaul (modern-day France); recruits soldiers & subdues rest of population

• Crassus killed in battle, sets off a power struggle between Pompey & Caesar

Crassus

Pompey

Civil WarCivil WarA nervous Senate calls

on Caesar to resign and disband his army or risk being declared an 'Enemy of the State'.

Caesar marches on Rome, throwing the empire into civil war.

A nervous Senate calls on Caesar to resign and disband his army or risk being declared an 'Enemy of the State'.

Caesar marches on Rome, throwing the empire into civil war.

Civil War, continuedCivil War, continued

No legions were allowed in city of Rome, so Caesar settled his legions outside city walls. He defeated Pompey.

Generous in victory, gives rivals amnesty and allows them to return to government positionsWhat might be the advantages and disadvantages of

Caesar allowing his rivals to return to government positions?

No legions were allowed in city of Rome, so Caesar settled his legions outside city walls. He defeated Pompey.

Generous in victory, gives rivals amnesty and allows them to return to government positionsWhat might be the advantages and disadvantages of

Caesar allowing his rivals to return to government positions?

Caesar as Dictator

Caesar as Dictator

Position insecureNo heir- does not adopt great

nephew Octavian (widely known as Augustus) until after his death. Created many enemies due to civil war

Reformed the Roman Calendar

Restructured local governments

Settled veteran soldiers into new homes

Granted citizenship to foreigners

Dictator for 2 years

Position insecureNo heir- does not adopt great

nephew Octavian (widely known as Augustus) until after his death. Created many enemies due to civil war

Reformed the Roman Calendar

Restructured local governments

Settled veteran soldiers into new homes

Granted citizenship to foreigners

Dictator for 2 years

You will receive a copy of this slide for your notes You will receive a copy of this slide for your notes

Julius Caesar CharactersJulius Caesar Characters

Marcus Brutus- friend of Caesar, high-ranking nobleman, idealist, conspirator

Portia- Brutus's wife & confidante, daughter of a political figure

Cassius- general, unscrupulous & shrewd, organizes conspiracy

Casca- conspirator, cynical poseur for Caesar

Decius- conspirator

Calpurnia- Caesar’s wife, superstitious and ambitious

Julius Caesar- Roman general and senator, aspires to benevolent dictatorship

Octavius Caesar -(Augustus), nephew, heir to throne

Mark Antony- general, loyal follower of Caesar, passionate & impulsive

M. Aemilus Lepidus-trusted by Octavius, easily controlled

Soothsayer-oracle or seer, warns Caesar "beware the Ides of March"