NOTES: JULIUS CAESAR BACKGROUND
I. COPY ALL OF THIS SECTION IN CORNELL NOTES STYLE
(TITLE) SECTION I: TYPES OF SPEECHES COMMON IN SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS
SOLILOQUY – a long speech given by one character with no other characters on the stage with the purpose of sharing one’s thoughts to
the audience
MONOLOGUE – the same as a soliloquy, but with another character on the stage
ASIDE – a remark heard by the audience, but not by other characters on stage
II. COPY ALL OF THIS SECTION IN CORNELL NOTES STYLE
(TITLE) SECTION II: TERMS FOR HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING
AUTOCRACY – a government in which one person has uncontrolled or unlimited authority
DEMOCRACY – meaning the rule of the people; the idea that people can govern themselves as opposed to having an absolute ruler such
as a king or emperor (monarchs)
ARISTOCRACY – a state ruled by the noble class
SENATE – the aristocratic branch of Rome’s government; controlled foreign and financial policies
REPUBLIC – a form of government in which power rests with the citizens who have the right to elect leaders who make government
decisions

in the early republic, two groups struggled for power  patricians and plebeians
o PATRICIANS – aristocratic/wealthy nobles who held most of the power
o PLEBEIANS – common farmers, artisans, and merchants; poorer people

DICTATOR (in ancient Rome) – in times of crisis, the republic provided a dictator, a leader who had absolute power to make
laws and command the army, for a six-month period

DICTATOR (in current times) --- a single leader who rules with absolute power, usually by force
III. COPY ALL OF THIS SECTION WORD FOR WORD – EXACTLY (YES, EXACTLY WORD FOR WORD, NOT IN CORNELL STYLE)
(TITLE) SECTION III: TIMELINE OF KEY HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE PLAY
60 B.C. – the First Triumvirate is formed by Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Caesar
58 B.C. – Caesar leaves Rome for Gaul and expands Roman Empire
49 B.C. – Caesar’s term as Proconsul in Gaul expires; Pompey and the Senate order him to disband his army and go to Rome. Caesar
disobeys the order and crosses the Rubicon River and essentially declares war on his former ally Pompey
48 B.C. – Caesar’s troops defeat Pompey’s; Pompey flees to Egypt; Caesar follows and is presented with Pompey’s head as a “gift”
46 B.C. – Caesar returns triumphantly to Rome, MARKING THE BEGINNING OF SHAKESPEARE’S PLAY; Caesar is appointed dictator (in the
ancient Rome sense), but many question his autocratic rule and see his governing as a threat to the Republic
45 B.C. – Caesar plans a public celebration for his victory over Pompey, angering many who believed that Pompey was friend and fellow
Roman, NOT an enemy; Caesar acts more and more like a monarch/dictator (in the current use of the term) and compares himself to a
god
44 B.C. – at the Feast of the Lupercal, Caesar is named dictator for life; Caesar is assassinated on the steps of the Senate house; Octavius,
Caesar’s great-nephew is named Caesar’s adopted son and heir
IV. READ THIS SECTION FIRST, THEN TAKE NOTES USING CORNELL NOTES STYLE FOR EACH SENTENCE MARKED BELOW
(TITLE) SECTION IV: POLITICAL SITUATION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE DURING JULIUS CAESAR’S TIME
(1) For centuries, Romans debated and even fought civil wars while trying to decide whether a monarchy, a republic, or a
dictatorship was the best form of government. (2) Until 509 B.C., Rome was a monarchy (one ruler), but, in that year, the Brutus family
evicted Tarquinas Superbus from the throne, and Rome was established as a republic (elected group of rulers).
(3) By 100 B.C., Rome was a moderate democracy in form; in actual practice, Rome was being ruled by the Senate. (4) Julius
Caesar was a patrician (noble), but won approval from the plebeians (commoners). (5) By spending money for public entertainment and
establishing laws freeing farmers and tradesmen from heavy taxes, he gained their support. (6) In 60 B.C., a triumvirate (three-man rule),
of Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey was formed to govern Rome.
(7) In 58 B.C., Caesar was made governor of part of Gaul (an area of Germany and France), and at the age of forty-four, he
began his military career. (8) During the next ten years, he proceeded to conquer all of Gaul. (9) After Crassus was killed while conducting
a military campaign in Parthia, trouble began to develop between Caesar and Pompey. (10) Pompey, jealous of Caesar’s popularity,
persuaded the Senate to order Caesar to disband his army and return to Rome. (11) But Caesar, with his army, crossed the Rubicon River
(which separated Gaul from Italy), invaded Rome, and made himself absolute ruler of Rome. (12) Meanwhile, Pompey fled to Greece. (13)
Caesar defeated Pompey’s army at Pharsalia (48 B.C.) and Pompey fled to Egypt, where he was later murdered.
(14) Three years after the Battle of Pharsalia, Caesar defeated Pompey’s two sons at Munda, Spain. (15) By now, Caesar had
been made dictator for life. (16) Thus, as Shakespeare begins his play with Caesar returning in victory from Spain, Caesar was the
undisputed leader and master of the entire Roman world.