Transcript Jim Ellis - Wright State University

Rome’s FiRst
Triumvirate
60 B.C.E. – 53 B.C.E
By: Jim Ellis
Rational
► To
better gain an understanding of the political and
social history of the world we live in, it is important for
middle school world history students to be introduced
to cultures other than their own. By introducing the
students to these ancient world cultures they can begin
to gain a better understanding of the current world
they live in and how it progressed to its current state.
Grade Level
►I
will be teaching this
lesson to seventh
grade world history
students.
Content Standard
►
Grade 7: World Studies: Ancient Times to 1750
►
In the seventh grade students begin the four-year historical
sequence with a study of the ancient world. This study includes
not only history but incorporates each of the other six standards
into the chronology. Students learn that each historic event is
shaped by its geographic setting, the culture of the people,
economic conditions, governmental decisions and citizen action.
Students also expand their command of social studies skills and
methods.
Objectives
►
The seventh grade world history students will:
1.
Identify the members of Rome’s first triumvirate with 100% accuracy.
Explain the personal qualities of each ruler in the triumvirate, as well what
each member had to gain by forming the triumvirate.
Identify how the triumvirate was unique and important in the evolution of
Roman society and life.
Prepare a one page analytical paper discussing the importance of the
triumvirate in Roman history and what effect, if any, the triumvirate had on
the future of Rome and its governance.
Based upon the criteria and examples discussed in class, each student must
construct a model of Caesar and his army crossing the Rubicon River and
returning home to Rome.
Support or refute the idea that Rome’s first triumvirate rule was a pivotal
turning point in the direction of Roman rule and history.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What is a Triumvirate?
►
Tri-um-vi-rate – a government of
three officers or magistrates
functioning jointly.
Members of the Triumvirate
1. Gnaeus
Pompeius Magnus – “Pompey the
Great” (106-48 BCE)
2. Marcus
3. Gaius
Licinius Crassus – (112-53 BCE)
Julius Caesar – “Julius Caesar” (100-
44 BCE)
Who Were These Men?
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
“PomPey the GReat”
►
Pompey, who lived from 106-48 BCE,
was a general in the Roman army under
the rule of Sulla. When Sulla died in
78 BCE Pompey took this opportunity
to ask the Senate for a series of special
high commands so he could deal with
the revolts that were plaguing the
Republic at that time. Pompey quickly
dealt with the many problems plaguing
Rome while all the time gaining more
Senate approved powers. In 70 BCE
Pompey joined forces with the newly
elected Consul, (and future triumvirate
member), Crassus. Before Pompey
joined the triumvirate he singlehandedly redrew the map of the Eastern
Mediterranean by developing new
cities through conquest. Pompey,
through his victories had increased
Rome’s annual income by 70 percent.
Marcus Licinius Crassus
►
Crassus was know in late Republic
as Rome’s richest man. Though not
born into a life of money, Crassus
gained much of his wealth through
greedy schemes by becoming the
cities greatest landlord. Crassus
used this money to support political
ambitions, which lead to his being
appointed Consul in 70 BCE.
Crassus’s biggest military
achievement was his defeat of
Spartacus and the slave revolt in 71
BCE. Crassus, had joined forces in
70 BCE with Pompey, and would
eventually help form Rome’s
triumvirate by 60 BCE.
Gaius Julius Caesar
►
Caesar, who was a military genius,
was elected Consul in 59 BCE with
the help of his triumvirate friends,
Pompey and Crassus. Today
Caesar is one of the most celebrated
figures in all of Roman history.
Caesar is known most notably for
his impressive victories in Gaul,
(modern-day France). Caesar
remained in Gaul for seven years
during his conquests which began
shortly after his being elected
Consul in 59 BCE. By the end of
his conquests in Gaul, Caesar had
gained a huge section of land for
the Roman Republic stretching
from the Pyrenees mountains in
modern-day Spain and the Atlantic
coast to the Rhine river of modernday Germany.
The Triumvirate
►
With the alliance of Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar in 60 BCE
Rome’s first triumvirate was born. Immediately following the
formation of the triumvirate Caesar left to conquer Gaul for the
next seven years leaving Pompey and Crassus to govern much of
the Republic. Together the three rulers controlled most of the
Roman military. Crassus, wanting to further his name and status,
left to conquer Syria but was killed in 53 BCE. With the death of
Crassus as well as Pompey’s wife, who happened to be Caesar’s
sister, the triumvirate disintegrated into a two man alliance.
Finally in 52 BCE with Caesar still in Gaul, Caesar’s enemies
persuaded the Senate to declare Caesar a “public enemy” and
asked Pompey to “save the Republic” The alliance of Pompey
and Caesar was now in serious disarray. The civil war that was
to follow would prove to be a great power struggle between
Pompey, Caesar, and the Senate, which there could be only one
winner.
Civil War and the
fall of the republic
►
As the civil war began Caesar and his army marched on Rome. While
crossing the Rubicon river which served as the northern boarder of Italy
Caesar declared, “the die is cast,” meaning, there was no turning back. Caesar
easily swept to victory over the Senatorial army lead by Pompey in 48 BCE,
and completely destroyed them in 45 BCE. Also in 45 BCE Pompey was
stabbed to death while coming ashore in Egypt as he fled the wrath of Caesar.
Caesar was now the sole ruler of Rome, and by 44 BCE Caesar had declared
himself. “dictator for life.” That same year Caesar life was cut short as he was
assassinated by sixty Senators fearing his grip on power. The assassination of
Caesar was the first assassination of a head of state in Rome in eighty-nine
years and would signal the start of the pattern of political scandal and murder.
The Republic was now dead and the age of the Emperor was in place, Rome
would stay much the same until the demise of the Western Empire in 476 CE.
Learning Center Guidelines
►
Students can use the learning center during the last fifteen
minutes of class each day, lesson permitting, and throughout the
period if they have shown that all other work has been
completed. I will manage their use by keeping a record of who
has accessed the center and for what period of time, to
accomplish this each student must sign their name, the date, and
the time the entered and left the center before and after each visit.
The students will be allowed to use the center as much as they
like as long as their work is completed and the lesson for the day
has been completed. The students will get instructional feedback
from the teacher as they are using the center and by completing
and scoring the worksheets located in the learning center.
Assorted Pictures
of Ancient Rome
(Flavian Amphitheater)
Coliseum
Coliseum Interior
Imperial Fora
Trajan's Column
detail of Tiber river warf
Basilica Julia:
overview looking South
The Pantheon
Various Ancient Rome Websites
Julius Caesar Website
► http://homepages.iol.ie/~coolmine/typ/romans/romans6.html
►
Welcome To The Romans Page
► http://ireland.iol.ie/~coolmine/typ/romans/intro.html
►
►
►
Ancient Rome
http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/curriculum/soc_studies/rome/Rome.html
Feminae Romanae: The Women of Ancient Rome
► http://dominae.fws1.com/
►
Ancient Rome: Images and Pictures
► http://clawww.lmu.edu/faculty/fjust/Rome.htm
►