CAESAR AND AUGUSTUS PAPER
Throughout this unit we have focused on Roman cultural ideals and the development of
the Roman state. Two figures, Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus, profoundly influenced
Rome’s political structure. While Caesar’s efforts to transform Roman politics ended in
his assassination, Augustus ruled Rome for over forty years.
Your job in this assignment is to answer this central question:
Why was Augustus able to establish himself successfully as sole ruler of
Rome while Julius Caesar did not?
Consider also:
Do you consider either of these men “great” leaders? Does the answer
change when you consider this question in historical context? (Is “great”
leadership for Rome different than “great” leadership for our own time and
society?)
Presentation
Use your notes and conclusions from reading the sources and watching the films to
present your conclusions.
Present your conclusions with supporting evidence in a 5-7 page essay. USE THE
CHECKLIST to ensure you have met all of the assignment’s expectations.
Be sure to include specific references, using MLA parenthetical
documentation, to the majority of the available sources. You must use at
least six (6) of the primary sources, but more is better.
Your typed essay should:
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Answer the question fully through a one-sentence thesis
Include specific examples and sufficient evidence to support your argument(s)
Follow the Written Work Format
Follow the formal essay format, including:
• intro: hook, bkgd context, and ends with a thesis
• analytical topic sentences that directly support thesis
• topic sentences fully reflect ideas/evidence in each paragraph
• sufficient convincing evidence for topic sentences & thesis
• conclusion: summarizes reasons, provides closure
• written for ‘unfamiliar reader’
• formal writing style – see Style Sheet