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A Roman Dictator The Artios Home Companion Series Unit 24: A Roman Dictator Teacher Overvie w Julius Caesar is the most famous of the Roman rulers. Many of the Roman rulers were assassinated as others became jealous of the Caesar’s power or were concerned about his tactics. Julius Caesar was assassinated in the Roman Senate and stabbed twenty-three times by senators including his close friend Brutus. Shakespeare wrote depicting these events in his play Julius Caesar. Reading and Assignments Based on your student’s age and ability, the reading in this unit may be read aloud to the student and journaling and notebook pages may be completed orally. Likewise, other assignments can be done with an appropriate combination of independent and guided study. In this unit, students will: Complete two lessons in which they will learn about Julius Caesar. Explore the following website: ▪ Julius Caesar http://www.history.com/topi cs/ancient-history/julius- caesar Visit www.ArtiosHCS.com for additional resources. Key People, Places, and Events Julius Caesar Spartacus Pompey Bust of Gaius Julius Caesar in Naples Ancient: Elementary Unit 24: A Roman Dictator Page 314 Leading Ideas Blessed is the nation whose God is the It is God who executes judgment, LORD, the people whom he has chosen putting down one and lifting up as his heritage! another. — Psalm 33:12 — Psalm 75:7 Additional Material for Parent or Teacher : Julius Caesar http://rome.mrdonn.org/caesar.html Julius Caesar – Eyewitness http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/caesar2.htm Ancient: Elementary Unit 24: A Roman Dictator Page 315 L e s s o n O n e History Overview and Assignments Death of a Republic The Murder of Caesar, by Karl von Piloty (1826-1886), 1865 Reading and Assignments Read the article: Julius Caesar. After reading the article, summarize the story you read by either: ▪ Retelling it out loud to your teacher or parent. OR ▪ Completing an appropriate notebook page. Either way, be sure to include the answers to the discussion questions and an overview of key people, places, dates, and events in your summary. Be sure to visit www.ArtiosHCS.com for additional resources. Key People, Places, and Events Julius Caesar Spartacus Pompey Ancient: Elementary Unit 24: A Roman Dictator Page 316 Discussion Questions 1. How did Julius Caesar die? 4. What language is Julius Caesar believed 2. What close friend of Caesar’s was to have spoken? involved in his murder? 5. How did Julius Caesar come to power? 3. Why did the senators murder Caesar? Adapted for Elementary School from the book: Ancient Civilizations source ushistory.org Julius Caesar members of the Senate took turns stabbing Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.), the dictator of the entire Roman Empire. Stunned that even his good friend Brutus was in on the plot, Caesar choked out his final words: “kai su, teknon?” (“You too, my child?”). On the steps of the Senate, the most powerful man in the ancient world died in a pool of his own blood. Julius Caesar’s military might, political savvy, and diplomatic genius made him supremely popular among the Roman citizenry. The first conspirator greeted Caesar, Roman soldiers’ appearance changed very little over the then plunged a knife into his neck. Other centuries. The army of Julius Caesar looked very similar to the soldiers in this 2nd-century B.C. carving. stabbers followed suit. One by one, several Ancient: Elementary Unit 24: A Roman Dictator Page 317 About “Et Tu, Brute?” reform the situation by two brothers, In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, were met with Caesar, the title character manages to utter opposition that eventually resulted in their “Et tu, Brute?” (“and you, Brutus?”) as he is deaths. slain. This is not historically accurate. According to the 1st century A.D. Roman historian Suetonius, Julius Caesar spoke mainly Greek and not Latin, as was the case with most patricians at the time. In his history about the life of Julius Caesar, Suetonius writes that as the assassins Julius Caesar led his Roman legions as far north as plunged their daggers into the dictator, Britain in 55 B.C. He and his army may have seen this view upon landing at Deal Beach. Caesar saw Brutus and spoke the Greek phrase “kai su, teknon,” meaning “you too, In addition, slavery was on the rise, and my child.” violent slave revolts were commonplace. There is still debate whether or not it was shouted in shock or spoken as a warning. On one hand, Caesar may have been amazed to find a close friend like Brutus trying to kill him; on the other hand, he may have meant that Brutus would pay for his crime in the future for this treachery. Either way, the words were Greek, so we’ll leave “Et tu, Brute?” for Shakespeare. Roman coins celebrated Caesar’s military victories in In this 19th century painting by Abel de Pujol, Caesar Gaul (present-day France). leaves his wife on the Ides of March, the day of his murder. Long before Julius Caesar became dictator (from 47 to 44 B.C.) and was A Revolting Development subsequently murdered, the Roman Spartacus (109-71 B.C.) was a captured Republic had entered a state of rapid soldier who was sold into slavery to be a decline. The rich had become wealthier and gladiator. But he escaped his captors and more powerful as a result of Rome’s many formed an army of rebel slaves. Against military successes. great odds, Spartacus’s slave army defeated Meanwhile, life for the average Roman two Roman battalions. seemed to be getting worse. Attempts to Spartacus wanted to leave Italy, but his Ancient: Elementary Unit 24: A Roman Dictator Page 318 army and supporters of the slave revolt Over time, however, the triumvirate urged him to attack Rome. A Roman army broke down. Crassus was killed in battle, led by Crassus finally defeated Spartacus and Pompey began entertaining ideas of and his men. ruling without the dangerously popular Over 5,000 men from Spartacus’s army Caesar. While Caesar was fighting in Gaul were crucified along Rome’s main road, the (modern-day France), Pompey and the Appian Way, as a warning to other slaves Senate ordered Caesar to return to Rome not to revolt. without his army. But when Caesar crossed Finally, a new practice developed in the Rubicon River in northern Italy, he which the army was paid with gold and land. brought his army with him in defiance of the Soldiers no longer fought for the good of the Senate’s order. This fateful decision led to a Republic but fought instead for tangible civil war. Caesar defeated Pompey’s forces rewards. Gradually, soldiers became more and entered Rome in 46 B.C., triumphant loyal to the generals who could pay them and unchallenged. than to the Roman Republic itself. It was Upon his return, Caesar made himself within this changing atmosphere that dictator and absolute ruler of Rome and its military leaders such as Julius Caesar were territories. During his rule, he enacted able to seize control of and put an end to the several reforms. Caesar founded many Roman Republic. colonies in newly conquered territories and Julius Caesar was a man of many talents. provided land and opportunity for poor Born into the patrician class, Caesar was Romans who chose to migrate there. He intelligent, educated, and cultivated. An reduced the number of slaves and opened excellent speaker, he possessed a sharp citizenship up to people living in the sense of humor, charm, and personality. All provinces. Finally, he created a new of these traits combined helped make him a calendar named the Julian calendar. This skilled politician. very calendar, with a few minor Moreover, Caesar was a military genius. adjustments, is the same one used around His many successful military campaigns the world today. gained him broad support and popularity In 44 B.C., Julius Caesar ordered the among the common people. Caesar also Senate to make him dictator for life. won the undying loyalty of his soldiers, who Typically, dictators served for a limited time supplied him with the necessary muscle to (usually six months), then stepped down. seize power. Caesar’s actions threatened to end the Julius Caesar began his rise to power in Republic once and for all. Fearing this 60 B.C. by forging an alliance with another change, a group of senators plotted and general, Pompey, and a wealthy patrician, executed the murder of Caesar on the Ides Crassus. Together, these three men of March. Although the senators succeeded assumed control of the Roman Republic, in ending Caesar’s life, they did not realize and Caesar was thrust into the position of at that time that the Republic had died with consul. Historians have since dubbed the him. period of rule by these three men the First Rome would now become an empire. Triumvirate. Ancient: Elementary Unit 24: A Roman Dictator Page 319 Timeline for General Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.) 100 Born in Rome 84 Marries Cornelia, daughter of the powerful consul Cinna 75 Captured and ransomed by Mediterranean pirates. After his release, Caesar fulfills his promise to crucify the pirates. 67 Marries Pompeia after Cornelia’s death 63 Elected Pontifex Maximus (High Priest) 61 Becomes governor of Spain 60 Forms triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey 59 Elected consul 58 Becomes governor of Gaul 53 Crassus killed at Battle of Carrhae in Mesopotamia 49 Caesar and his army cross the Rubicon into Italy, sparking civil war. 48 Pompey murdered in Egypt; Caesar has affair with Cleopatra and makes her queen of Egypt.
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