Transcript Introduction to Caesar and Rome Powerpoint

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.
The Roman Empire at 44 BC
at 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.
Monarchy 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
Roman Forum
A Brief History of Roman
Government
Monarchy: overthrown in 509 BCE
Republic: 509 – 100 BCE
Triumvirate (3-man rule): 60-48 BCE
Dictatorship: 48 BCE until fall of
Rome (apx. 476 CE/AD)
Question: Which forms of Roman government
lasted the longest?
Roman
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.
Republican 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
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 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!
Julius 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.
*I came, I saw, I conquered
First Triumvirate
Crassus
• Caesar allied himself with two other
political figures:
Pompey
• 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
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,
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 positions
 What might be the advantages and disadvantages of Caesar
allowing his rivals to return to government positions?
Caesar as
Dictator
 Position insecure
 No 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
Julius Caesar Characters
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Julius CaesarRoman general
and senator,
aspires to
benevolent
dictatorship
Octavius
Caesar (Augustus),
nephew, heir
to throne
CalpurniaCaesar’s wife,
superstitious and
ambitious
Mark Antonygeneral, loyal
follower of
Caesar,
passionate &
impulsive
Soothsayeroracle or seer,
warns Caesar
"beware the
Ides of March"
M. Aemilus
Lepidus-
Marcus
Brutus- friend
of Caesar, highranking
nobleman,
idealist,
conspirator
trusted by
Octavius, easily
controlled
PortiaBrutus's wife
& confidante,
daughter of a
political figure
Cassiusgeneral,
unscrupulous
& shrewd,
organizes
conspiracy
Cascaconspirator,
cynical
poseur for
Caesar
Deciusconspirator