Transcript The Gallic Warsx

JULIUS CAESAR &
THE GALLIC WARS
58-50 BC
Gaul Before Caesar
• 5th Century BCE
– Migration of Celtic (Gallic)
tribes into Po River region
caused conflict w/ Roman
settlers
• 390 BCE
– Gauls defeat a Roman army
and sack Rome
• Romans begin advance
into Gaul after Punic Wars
A Brief Pre-Gallic Wars Bio
of Julius Caesar
• Born around 100 BC
• From a noble but poor family
– Claimed that he was descended from
the gods
• Nephew of Marius through marriage
– Connection allowed him to rise from
low status
– Marius greatly influenced Caesar
• Started his military career in Asia
Minor
– Gained a reputation for bravery in
battle
• Managed to gain governorships in
new territories, including Gaul in 58
BCE
The Gallic Wars: 58-50 BC
• Julius Caesar’s extraordinary campaign to
conquer Gaul, which won him wealth, glory,
and power (Cummins 63).
Read about it in Caesar’s
Conquest of Gaul
Caesar’s Successes in Gaul
• In 9 years, he conquered
about 300,000 sq. miles of
W. Europe
– Includes parts of modern day
France, Belgium,
Luxembourg, Germany &
England.
• Gave him immense wealth,
power and influence in
Roman politics
• Gained loyalty of his troops
Conflict in Gaul
• Cenabum (Orleans, France) 52 BC
– Gauls surprise and slaughter a group of Roman citizens
– Caesar moved quickly in winter to put down Gallic
resistance to Roman rule
• Gauls used guerilla strategy
– Burned farms and villages to deny Romans supplies in
winter
• Romans and German auxillaries ruthlessly slaughtered
Gallic civilians in response
– Siege of Avaricum, only 800 of 40,000 Gauls escaped siege
Vercingetorix
• Gallic chieftain who
united Gallic tribes
– Charismatic leader
• Traveled countryside
encouraging Gauls to rise
up against Romans
• Eventually surrendered to
Caesar after the Siege of
Alesia
Fighting Styles
GAULS
• Emphasized fighting
individually rather than by
unit
• Not uniformly armed
(depended on wealth)
• Experienced in raiding
neighboring tribes
• Main tactic vs. Romans
– Hit-n-run or seek refuge in
fortified hilltop towns
ROMANS
•
•
•
•
Emphasized unit cohesion
Uniformly armed
Well trained and disciplined
Main tactic vs. Gauls
– Hold shield over head and
thrust upward with sword
(Gauls were taller w/ long
slashing swords
The Siege of Alesia
ROME (HBO SERIES)
• What to look for in this clip
– Roman tactics in combat
– Weaponry & armor
– Roman vs. barbarian fighting
styles