JULIUS CAESAR World History September 25, 2013

Who is Julius Caesar?  Julius Caesar was born in Rome on July 13, 100 B.C.E.  His mother Aurelia and his father Julius came from a noble background When Caesar was 10 years old, his aunt married a very wealthy noble that increased their family’s social status  His uncle started out in the army and gained notoriety and respect over time in politics  He was elected to the consul in 108 B.C.E. Caesar learned about politics from his uncle

Caesar’s Rise to Power  After studying in politics under his uncle, Caesar joined the Roman military guarding Rome’s territory  He won many early battles that gave him a tough reputation  Caesar moved up on the political ladder  He took job after job within the military He was known as a great public speaker who wasn’t afraid to voice his opinions  He was elected Consul in 59 B.C.E. with the help of his friend Pompey  In return, he promised to help give Pompey political power

The First Triumvirate  Triumvirate = three men  Refers to a political coalition  In Ancient Rome, the First Triumvirate was an alliance between three political powers  Julius Caesar  Marcus Licinius Crassus  Pompey  As Rome expanded, they were constantly at war  The need for a dictator grew larger The traditional idea for a dictator vanished and many men in power became tyrannical  Sulla served as dictator, Pompey helped him stifle civil war in Rome  After Sulla’s death, Pompey needed Crassus and Caesar to make up where he lacked  The three men aligned themselves with one another  Two were enemies  Two were only united by marriage in their family

Caesar vs. Pompey  Caesar and Pompey, once friends, battled for power  Pompey was backed by the senate Caesar was ordered to give up his conquest and return to Rome Caesar refused and civil war broke out  Pompey and Caesar battled for the land and power of the Roman territory  In 48 B.C.E. Caesar and his armies brought down Pompey’s army  Pompey was forced to flee to Egypt  The Egyptians murdered Pompey and presented Caesar with his head

Cleopatra  Became the queen of Egypt in 51 B.C.E. at the age of 18  Co-ruled with her father for 4 years After his death she was forced to marry her younger brother  Her father was a friend of Rome while he was Pharaoh  Caesar had known Cleopatra when she was a young girl  When Caesar became dictator she was brought to him wrapped in a rug, and seduced him Caesar helped her restore herself as sole ruler of Egypt  She and Caesar became lovers and had a son, Caesarion  He was Caesar’s only son  She and her son lived in a palace that Caesar built for them until his assassination Because they were not married, Romans would not acknowledge him as Caesar’s son and heir to the throne

Caesar’s Accomplishments  Julius Caesar led many military conquests  He conquered Gaul Modern day France and Belgium  He was known for saying “Veni, Vidi, Vici” “I came, I saw, I conquered”  When he became dictator he focused on the rights of the plebeians  Gave land to the poor for farming  Use government money to pay for food for the plebeians  Gave pay to the Roman army  Perfected the Julian Calendar  Created in 45 B.C.E. Based on astronomy

Assassination  As Caesar continued to gain control throughout Rome, he became a threat  The Senate was afraid he would make himself king  He was murdered by a group of 40 Roman senators called Liberators  They stabbed him to death in the Theatre of Pompey Took place on the Ides of March (March 15) 44 B.C.E.  It is believed that his last words were… “Et tu, Brute?”  Means “You too, Brutus?” Brutus was one of his closes friends and most trusted companions