Julius Caesar
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qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh jklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvb nmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwer tyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopas dfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxJulius cvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmq wertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuio pasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjCaesar klzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwerty uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc vbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrty Biography Workbook Series uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf© Student Handouts ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc vbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqw Julius Caesar JULIUS CÆSAR (100-44 B.C.E.) Rome solved the great political sweeping vision, he saw as from some problem of the ancient world in the superior height, the political situation best practicable, if not in the best of his own time in its relation to the conceivable, way. To Julius Cæsar it past and the future of the ancient fell to put the crowning stroke to that world. If Rome had till then carried work. The several states of modern out the work of conquest with Europe have all contributed, though in considerable method, and upon the different degrees, to political progress, whole, with steadiness, it had very and therefore no one of them has the inadequately satisfied the need for unique importance and glory that incorporation. Rome’s oligarchical belongs to Rome. For the same reason, constitution, admirably adapted for no modern statesman stands on a the first task, could not easily level with Julius Cæsar. He remains, reconcile itself to the second. in Shakespeare's phrase, "the foremost man of all this world." 2. What word best describes Rome’s government before Cæsar came to 1. What famous English writer called power? Julius Cæsar “the foremost man of a. Dictatorship all this world”? b. Monarchy _________________________________ c. Oligarchy _________________________________ d. Theocracy ________________________________ In its best days, and while It was the high fortune of Rome Carthage and Macedon were still that, in the principal crisis of its formidable, the Senate had from time history, it possessed a citizen so to time, prudently though grudgingly, splendidly endowed in intellect, extended the privilege of citizenship to character, and heart. Free to an some of the subject Italian states. But extraordinary degree from the the great mass of Italians had only prejudices belonging to his age and extorted it by rebellion during the country, with piercing and far- boyhood of Cæsar. Outside Italy, the www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 2 Julius Caesar conquered nations were still on the he preferred to re-establish the footing of subject allies, trampled upon senatorial oligarchy. and fleeced for the benefit of Rome, or rather of the Roman nobles and 4. Why did Sulla fail to extend the capitalists. If the great dominion was franchise (citizenship) to Rome’s to be maintained in some tolerable provincials? degree of well-being for all its _________________________________ members, or even maintained at all, it _________________________________ was absolutely necessary that the so- ________________________________ called Republican constitution, always _________________________________ oppressive for the provinces, and now _________________________________ shamefully corrupt, should be replaced ________________________________ by personal government. When Sulla crushed the Marian 3. The Roman patricians were always party (party of Gaius Marius), Cæsar eager to extend citizenship to had just arrived at manhood. Though Rome’s conquered peoples. of an old patrician house, he had yet a a. True family connection with the democratic b. False party, Marius having married his aunt. Cæsar himself had married a For a complete incorporation of daughter of the democratic leader the subject peoples was not to be Cinna, and for refusing to divorce her expected from the suffrages of a he was proscribed by Sulla, but dominant people, to even the poorest managed to keep in hiding till the of whom, it would mean the cessation storm was past. of highly prized privileges and immunities. The provinces would from 5. Describe Julius Cæsar’s two the earliest moment of their subjection familial connections to the have welcomed such a change. The Populares (democratic party). time was more than ripe for it when _________________________________ the Roman world lay at the feet of _________________________________ Sulla. Sulla had all the ability, self- ________________________________ reliance, prestige, and opportunity _________________________________ that were needed. But his moral _________________________________ nature was below the task. He had ________________________________ neither the insight, nor the sympathy, _________________________________ nor the noble ambition of Cæsar, and _________________________________ www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 3 Julius Caesar After the death of the great determined to take the great task into reactionist Sulla (78 B.C.E.), Cæsar his own hands. He was the recognized seized every opportunity of reviving chief of the popular party, which the spirit of the popular party—for aimed at concentrating Republican instance, by publicly honoring the government in the hands of a single memory of Marius, bringing to justice person, as the only means of bridling murderers of the proscription, and the oligarchy. But this was not to be courageously raising his single voice in accomplished merely by popular votes, the Senate against the illegal as many a democratic leader had execution of Catiline's partisans (63 found to his cost. Cæsar needed an B.C.E.). Clearly seeing the necessity army and a military reputation, and for personal government, at a time with rare patience he set himself to when his own services and distinctions acquire both. By a coalition with were not such as to entitle him to Pompey—now obliged to treat Cæsar aspire to it, Cæsar did his best to as an equal—he obtained the secure it for Pompey (then the consulship (59 B.C.E.), which on its foremost man in Rome), by expiration entitled him to a great strenuously supporting measures military command. which virtually placed the empire at Pompey’s absolute disposal for an 7. The Populares aimed at indefinite period. A fairly good soldier, concentrating Republican but a most vain, unreliable, and government in the hands of a/an incompetent statesman, Pompey after _____. five years let these powers slip a. assembly through his hands. b. hereditary chieftain c. single person 6. Whom did Cæsar help bring to d. troika power? a. Jugurtha Roman generals had of late b. Marius preferred to extend their conquests c. Pompey eastward, and to win comparatively d. Sulla easy and lucrative triumphs in Asia, over people who had possessed for long Cæsar was by this time thirty- ages a type of civilization suited to eight (62 B.C.E.). He had steadily them, and who therefore could never risen in influence and official rank. It thoroughly assimilate Western was, no doubt, now that he manners and institutions. All this www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 4 Julius Caesar time Gaul, lying at the gates of Italy, continuous years did he devote to this was neglected (only the district great task, which, if he had achieved between the Cevennes and the Alps nothing else, would make his name having been reduced), because the one of the greatest in history. people were more warlike, and less booty was to be gained. Yet, till that 9. Ancient Gaul is roughly equivalent conquest should be effected, Rome's to what modern country? work of civilizing the world was a. France standing still. Nay, it was always b. Germany menaced by northern invasions. c. Great Britain d. Spain 8. Why did Roman generals prefer to conquer Eastern lands, rather than In those ten years, Cæsar lands in Europe north of Italy? conquered Gaul, from the Pyrenees to _________________________________ the Rhine and the British Channel. _________________________________ Cæsar conquered Gaul so thoroughly, ________________________________ and treated the Gauls so sensibly, that _________________________________ when the fierce struggle was over, _________________________________ Gaul frankly and even proudly ________________________________ accepted her new position. The _________________________________ culture, the institutions, even the _________________________________ language of the victors, were eagerly ________________________________ adopted. The grandsons of the men who had fought so gallantly against This field of action—the Cæsar, won full citizenship, took their conquest of Gaul—Cæsar marked out seats in the Senate, and commanded for himself. He could prepare the Roman armies. means for assuming power at home, These ten years decided the and at the same time render the future of the West, and therefore of highest service to his country and humanity. It is not merely the central humanity. His ardent spirit, his position and natural advantages of incredible energy in all circumstances France, nor yet the admirable of his life, astonished his qualities of her people, which have contemporaries. Time pressed, for he made her throughout mediæval and was no longer young. While he was modern history, the foremost of absent from Rome, what revolutions European states. It is even more the might not mar his plans! Yet, ten result of France’s (Gaul’s) rapid and www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 5 Julius Caesar thorough acceptance of Roman 11. Imagine that you are Pompey. civilization. This made