Julius Caesar Symposium
Panel
Cornell Notes Question: What role
does power play in Julius Caesar?
• Key Points
• Notes
Government and Philosophy
Types Of Government
Direct Democracy In a direct democracy all citizens have a chance to participate. The
people directly control and are responsible for the laws that govern their society. All
citizens can take initiative to create public policy. An example of a direct democracy is
ancient Athens where they held assemblies to pass laws.
Representative Democracy Like direct democracy, representative democracy is a
government by the people. Representative democracy is a form of government in which
people elect leaders to write and manage laws for the country. These leaders are
responsible for representing the will of the people and are elected at regular intervals.
They are also often bound by a Constitution.
Theocracy The word theocracy contains the Greek root “theo” which means “god.” A
theocracy is a rule by god or higher power. In a theocracy, religious leaders usually lead
the society and religious law is used to settle disputes and rule the people. The
Islamic Republic of Iran is an example of a modern theocracy.
Types of Government
Oligarchy The philosopher Aristotle originally used the word “oligarchy” to
refer to rule by the rich, but the literal definition of oligarchy is “rule by the
few.”
Monarchy Kings, queens, princes, and princesses. Monarchy is rule by a king,
or monarch, and he usually gains his power because his parents were rulers
(monarchs) also. Some modern monarchies like Spain and Japan have
constitutions, while others do not.
Dictatorship In a dictatorship power is not inherited, but usually is acquired
by force. A dictator has absolute control over the lives of his citizens, like Kim
Jong Il in North Korea. Because a dictator has absolute power, opposition is
usually suppressed and people are prevented from voicing their opinions.
Autocracy A form of government in which political power is controlled by one
individual such as a monarch, dictator, emperor, etc.
John Locke
“We have reason to conclude that all peaceful
beginnings of government have been laid in the
consent of the people.”
John Locke
If the ruler didn't keep the contract, the people could
overthrow the government.
Locke also believed that the people were entitled to
natural rights such as life, liberty and the protection of
their property.
Thomas Hobbes
Governments were created, according to Hobbes, to
protect people from their own selfishness and evil.
The best government was one that had the great power
of a leviathan, or sea monster.
Hobbes believed in the rule of a king because he felt a
country needed an authority figure to provide direction
and leadership.
Thomas Hobbes
"During the time men live without a common
power to keep them all in awe, they are in that
conditions called war; and such a war, as if of
every man, against every man. “
"No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst
of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death:
and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish
and short."
World History
What does BC, AD and BCE, CE mean?
• CE stands for "Common Era."
• AD is an abbreviation for "Anno Domini" in Latin or "the year of the Lord" in
English. Both measure the number of years since the approximate birthday
of Jesus of Nazareth
• CE and AD have the same value. That is 1 CE = 1 AD, and 2011 CE = 2011
AD. The word "common" simply means that it is based on the most
frequently used calendar system: the Gregorian Calendar.
• BCE stands for "Before the common era."
• BC means "Before Christ,“ Both measure the number of years before the
approximate birthday of Jesus. A year in BC and BCE also have identical
values.
• Although many people believe that Jesus was born at the end of 1 BCE,
most theologians and religious historians estimate that he was born
sometime between 7 and 4 BCE.
• BCE & CE became more preferred as a more secular approach to dating,
although both systems use the same Christian references in time.
The Government, Structure and
Constitution of the Roman Republic
Most content from http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-empire/roman-republic.htm
• The Roman Republic was governed by an elected Senate who were appointed
for life - the wealthy, aristocratic Patricians ruled Rome
• The 300 members of the senate, all from aristocratic families, grew in power
• The senators selected new senators to replace any who died
• Roman Senators also appointed two senators to become joint heads of state for
a year
• The heads of state were first known as praetors and later as consuls
• Every consul had the power of veto to forbid any action of the other
• To avoid serious stalemates in a crisis the constitution of the republic provided
for another more powerful office - that of dictator
• A Dictator could only hold office for a period not exceeding six months to
ensure he did not achieve total power
• As time moved on the poor people of Rome, the Plebeians (Plebs), protested at
their total lack of power and exclusion from any benefits of the Republic
• The protests of the Plebs led to the creation of two powerful new officials
called the Tribunes of the People whose role was to safeguard the rights of the
plebeians
What led to the Decline of
the Roman Republic?
• The 500-year-old Roman Republic eventually
became corrupt and weakened by bloody civil
wars, political in-fighting, power plays and
dissatisfaction with the Senate.
• These all led to the decline of the Roman Republic.
• Julius Caesar eventually seized power and became
dictator, ending the Civil Wars, but signaling the
end of the Roman Republic.
• The adoptive son of Julius Caesar, Octavian,
became the first Emperor of Rome as Caesar
Augustus.
Roman history timeline
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509 BC: Roman republic replaced Etruscans
rulers
451-449 BC: The Decemvirate formed - a
body of 10 magistrates and establishes The
Code of the Twelve Tables
390 BC: Gallic invasion of Italy and the
Destruction of Rome by the Gauls
343-341 BC: First Samnite War (for control
of Italy)
326-304 BC: 2nd Samnite War
298 to 290 BC: The Roman Republic fights
the 3rd Samnite War
264 BC : Introduction of gladiator 'games'
in Rome
264-146 BC: The Punic Wars - a series of
three wars fought between Rome and
Carthage by the Roman Republic
260 BC : Rome builds its first major fleet
202 BC : Battle of Zama, Scipio defeats
Hannibal (Carthage)
215 to 148 BC : Macedonian Wars (Four
Wars) with Northern Greece
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135 - 132 BC: Slave revolts in Sicily. (1st
Servile War)
133-132 BC: The tribune Tiberius
Gracchus unleashes the mob with
promises of food and lands. He is
murdered by members of the senate
whose wealth and power is threatened
104 - 100 BC: Second Sicilian slave war
(2nd Servile War)
91 BC: Drusus, tribune proposing
reforms, is murdered in Rome, triggering
the Social War
90 BC: Civil War in Rome
88 BC: Sulla marches on Rome and
becomes Dictator
78 BC: Death of Sulla
73 BC: Outbreak of Third Servile War, led
by the slave and gladiator Spartacus
71 BC: Revolt of Spartacus crushed by
Pompey and Crassus
70 BC: Crassus and Pompey become joint
consuls of the Roman Republic
Growth of the Roman Empire
Julius Caesar
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102/100 BC- July 13/12 - Caesar's Birth
84 BC- Caesar marries the daughter of L. Cornelius
Cinna
75 BC – Caesar in exile; Pirates capture Caesar
73 BC - Caesar is elected Pontifex
69 BC- Caesar is quaester, (Roman magistrate).
Cornelia, the wife of Caesar, dies
67 BC - Caesar marries Pompeia
65 BC - Caesar is elected an Aedile, a magistrate
who looked after the city of Rome, its corn supply,
municipal regulations, and games.
63 BC - Caesar is elected Pontifex Maximus
62 BC- Caesar is praetor. Caesar divorces Pompeia
61 BC- Caesar is Propraetor of Further Spain
60 BC- Caesar is elected Consul and forms the
Triumvirate, one of 3 who held power
59 BC- Caesar is Consul
58 BC- Caesar defeats the Helvetii and Germans
55 BC- Caesar crosses the Rhine and invades
Britain
54 BC- Caesar's daughter, who is also Pompey's
wife, dies
53 BC- Crassus is killed
52 BC - Caesar defeats Vercingetorix
49 BC- Caesar crosses the Rubicon - Civil War
begins
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Caesar Crossing the Rubicon
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The Rubicon was a stream separating Gaul from
Italy. When Julius Caesar led his troops from Gaul
to the Rubicon, Caesar paused on the northern
end of the bridge debating whether to cross or
not. It would be a crime against Rome for
proconsul Caesar to bring his troops in from the
province, but if he didn't, he would be stripped
of command and prosecuted. Although he
hesitated, Caesar did cross the Rubicon, in
January 49 B.C., thereby starting a civil war.
To cross the Rubicon means to take an
irrevocable step that commits one to a specific
course.
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48 BC - Pompey is murdered
47 BC - Caesar invades Egypt and appoints Cleopatra queen
46 BC - Thapsus Battle (Tunisia) against Cato and Scipio. Caesar made dictator. (Third time.)
45 or 44 BC (Before the Roman Festival of Lupercalia) - Caesar is declared dictator for life;
literally perpetual dictator
Ides of March, 44 BC - Caesar is assassinated
44 BC - Marcus Antony controls Rome
43 BC - The Second Triumvirate established in the Roman Republic between Octavian (Julius
Caesar's adoptive son) and Marc Antony
42 BC Octavian takes control of Italy
31 BC Battle of Actium, Octavian defeats Marc Antony and Queen Cleopatra
27 BC Octavian, became, as Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of Rome and the Roman
Republic comes to an end
ROMAN EMPIRE timeline
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27 BC to AD 68 Julian-Claudian Dynasty Augustus Caesar, Tiberius Caligula, Claudius
and Nero. Famous events during this period
included the lost legions of Varus, the reign of
terror by Sejanus, the invasion of Britain and
the great fire of Rome
68 - 69 AD The Year of the Four Emperors
69 – 96 AD The Flavian Dynasty ; Famous
events of this period included the Destruction
of Jerusalem, the Eruption of Vesuvius and
the Building of the Colosseum
96–192 AD The Five Good Emperors and the
Nervan / Antonine Dynasty ; the Pantheon
was built in Rome,plague in Rome
192 - 193 AD The Year of the Five Emperors,
turmoil and chaos in Rome
193 - 235 AD The Severan dynasty marked the
end of Pax Romana (Roman peace)
235 - 284 AD The Crisis of the Third Century
was the period in Roman history of Military
Anarchy which lasted over 50 years. Not one
single Emperor died of natural causes during
this time. Events of this period included
revolts, civil wars, street fights, fierce foreign
enemies, plagues, famines, fire and
earthquakes.
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238 - 268 AD The "Barracks Emperors" were
all military generals who seized power by
force.
268 - 285 AD The Illyrian Emperors came from
Illyria which was a region in the Balkan
Peninsula. During this period was the worst
persecutions of the Christians
285 AD The Roman Empire was split in half by
Diocletian - The Western Roman Empire and
the Eastern Roman Empire aka the Byzantine
Empire
285 - 364 AD The Constantinian dynasty named after its most famous Emperor,
Constantine the Great; policy of toleration
towards the Christians.
364 - 394 AD The Valentinian dynasty; Empire
is invaded by the fierce Barbarians the
Visigoths and the Vandals.
394 - 476 AD Theodosius I was the last
emperor of both the Eastern and Western
Roman Empire
476 AD - The Western Roman Empire ended
officially with the abdication of Romulus
Augustus on 4 September 476.
Connection of Julius Caesar to 16th
Century England of Shakespeare
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Play was probably written in 1599
Queen Elizabeth had been reigning 60 years on
the throne of England
No heirs to the throne, much like Caesar
Social issues – monarchy had taken much of the
power from the aristocracy.
New rising gentry class acquiring wealth and
power.
Many nobles had died during the Wars of the
Roses, a series of civil wars fought in England in
the 15th century.
Elizabeth, her father (Henry VIII), and her
grandfather (Henry VII), rarely appointed new
nobles to replace those who died. They saw the
nobility as a threat to their power and preferred
to keep the number small.
Was Shakespeare making a comparison to the
changes in Elizabethan England with his Julius
Caesar?
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/ju
liuscaesar/context.html
Social Psychology
Social Psychology: Conformity and
Obedience, and the Mob
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Conformity occurs when people yield to real
or imagined social pressure
Example: You maintain a well-groomed lawn
to avoid ticking off the neighbors.
Solomon Asch (1951, 1955, 1956)
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1955: A group of seven subjects, all male
undergraduate students, were shown a large
card with a vertical line on it and were then
asked to indicate which of the three lines on a
second card matches the original “standard line”
in length.
Solomon Asch ctd.
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Everyone in the group are given a turn to match the
line lengths, and then they announce their decision
in a group.
The subject the 6th chair didn’t know it, but everyone
else in the group is an accomplice of the
experimenter.
All accomplices give the correct answer for the first
two trials. Beginning on the third trial, they begin to
give the wrong answer.
Out of the next 15 trials, the accomplices give the
same incorrect answer on 11 of them.
What did the person in the 6th chair do?
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This experiment was repeated with 50
different young men.
The 50 participants in the 6th chair conformed
to the wrong answer 37% of the time.
13 never caved in to the group, and 14
conformed on over half the trials!
 Why
do people conform?
Stanley Milgram (1963)
 How
can regular citizens be
persuaded to act in cruel ways?
Stanley Milgram ctd.
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Subjects were a diverse collection of 40 men from
the local community recruited through
advertisements to participate in a study at Yale.
The subjects were told that the purpose of the
experiment was to study the relationship between
mental acuity and stress.
Each subject would meet the experimenter and
another subject, a likeable, 47-year-old accountant.
The accountant was actually an accomplice to the
experimenter, but the subject didn’t know it.
The subject was “the teacher” and the nice
accountant was “the learner.” These assignments
were made through a rigged drawing.
Milgram ctd.
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The subject watched as the accountant
was strapped into an electrified chair
through which a shock could be
delivered.
The subject was told that the shock
would be painful but “would not cause
tissue damage.”
The subject was taken into a room next
door that housed the shock generator
that he was told to control.
The 30 switches varied from “Slight
Shock” to “XXX.”
Milgram ctd.
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The accountant was asked questions. When he
answered them correctly, he was not shocked.
When he answered them incorrectly, the subject
was told to administer increasingly severe shocks
for each wrong answer.
THE SHOCKS WERE NOT REAL, BUT THE
SUBJECT DIDN’T KNOW IT!
As the severity of the false shocks increased, the
accomplice would begin to scream, beat on the wall,
and beg for mercy.
When the level of the false shocked was nearing its
severest, the accomplice would fall silent, as if he
was no longer conscious.
Milgram ctd.
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As the shocks continued, the subject would
ask the experimenters things like, “Should I
stop now?” or “Am I hurting him?” The
subjects were told by the experimenters to
continue until the end of the experiment.
65% of the subjects delivered the entire
series of shocks.
Why?
“The essence of obedience is that a person
comes to view himself as the instrument for
carrying out another person’s wishes, and he
therefore no longer regards himself as
responsible for his actions.”
—Stanley Milgram
Julius Caesar Connection
Ask yourself the following questions as you
view Julius Caesar:
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Why do the senate members fear the main body of
Roman citizens?
How do we see conformity among the conspirators,
and what are the consequences?
How does Mark Antony persuade the people to
revolt during the famous funeral speech? He doesn’t
tell them straight up to revolt, so how does he do it?
Literature and the Humanities