1. Why was Caesar murdered?
Warm Up: Grab the handout by the door and answer the following question:
Julius Caesar
Why was Caesar murdered?

2. Who was Julius Caesar? Roman army general
Had led his army to conquer the whole of Gaul
Was a popular hero with his troops and with the ordinary people of Rome
Due to his success in Gaul, he was able to gain control of Rome

3. Caesar and Pompey
One of Caesar’s biggest rivals was another general called Pompey
The Senate disliked Caesar and supported Pompey – they ordered Caesar to get rid of his army
Caesar ignored them and defeated Pompey in battle
Caesar then took over Rome as ‘Dictator for Life’

4. Caesar’s murder – the build up
A few weeks before his murder Caesar is told by a soothsayer ‘Beware the Ides of march!’
The night before his murder his wife Calpurnia has a nightmare and begs him not to go to the Senate

5. The Murder 15th March 44BC Caesar gets ready to go to the senate
More than 60 conspirators wait for Caesar in the Senate
The conspirators, all senators, are led by Brutus and Cassius
With daggers concealed under their togas they murder Caesar, stabbing him at least 23 times
Caesar says to his friend Brutus ‘You, too, my child.’

6. Why was Caesar murdered?

7. A new type of Government
Julius Caesar had no children to inherit his empire. He adopted his nephew Octavian.
For 13 years after Caesar was assassinated there was civil war.
Octavian gained control of Rome and the senate awarded him the name “Augustus” meaning ‘highly respected’
With the rule of Augustus came a new type of government, The Roman Empire was born.
Augustus was the first Emperor of the Empire.