Name____________________________________________________Date_______________
Caesar
Early Life and the Politics of Rome
Central Idea
Julius Caesar grew up with many political connections
through his father Gaius Julius Caesar, who had been a
praetor, and his uncle Gaius Marius, a war hero and
politician who had married his father's sister Julia. His
mother was Aurelia Cotta.
The politics in Rome were embroiled between those who Evidence
wanted a populous electorate, the populares, and those
who wanted aristocratic rule, the optimates. Caesar's uncle
Marius was a popularis. In his oposition was Lucius
Cornelius Sulla, an optimas. Both were political leaders.
These opposing political camps caused many civil wars,
coups, and attempted coups. Caesar's life, politics, and
military career were directly affected by which camp was
holding power.
At this time King Mithridates of Pontus, on the south coast
of the Black Sea, threatened Rome's eastern provinces. What can you infer from the author’s point of view?
Sulla was chosen to lead his army against Mithridates.
While he departed Rome to join his army, the government
appointed Marius to lead the war against Mithridates. Sulla
received word of this and marched on Rome and seized
power. Marius fled to Africa. The appointment was
returned to Sulla, and his army marched to the eastern
provinces. Marius and his army then marched on Rome. He
and his allies, including Lucius Cornelius Cinna, seized
power. There was purge of the supporters of Sulla. Marius
died in 86 BCE, but his faction remained in power. Julius
Caesar was allied with Cinna and married his daughter
Cornelia in 84 BCE.
Central Idea
Sulla was victorious in the east and marched on Rome. He
waged war against the army of Marius and defeated them
in 82 BCE Sulla had himself declared dictator and initiated a
massive purge of the populares. Caesar was on this list,
being related to Marius and Cinna. Caesar's political
appointment, inheritance, and wife's dowry was
appropriated. He was in hiding but was reprieved because
his mother's family had influence with Sulla.
Military Career
Evidence
Caesar joined the army and left Rome, and became an aide
of the governor of Asia. There he was involved in a military
victory against Mithradates VI, king of Pontus. In this action
he was awarded the corona civica, or Civic Crown, one of
the highest Roman military decorations. Sulla retired as
dictator and died in 78 BCE. Julius Caesar returned to Rome What can you infer from the author’s point of view?
at this time. Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, a close ally of his, had
attempted a failed coup against the Sullan government.
Julius Caesar sailed to Rhodes to study in 75 BCE. He was
captured by pirates and ransomed for 50 talents of gold.
Later, Caesar crucified the pirates. After this he again led an
army against the king of Pontus. He went on to Rhodes to
study under Apollonius Molo, who had taught Cicero.
Central Idea
Caesar returned to Rome in 72 BCE, where he was elected
as a military tribune. He then became quaestor and
prepared to fulfill this position with the army in Hispania
(Spain) in 69 BCE. He served as quaestor in western
Hispania and returned to Rome and married Pompeia, the
granddaughter of Sulla. He was elected aedile. After this
Caesar was then elected pontifex maximus. He was elected Evidence
praetor in 62 BCE He was appointed propraetor in 61 BCE
and left Rome to govern Hispania Ulterior (Furthest Spain).
In western Hispania he led the conquest of the Callaici and
Lusitani people. His army hailed him as imperator, and he
entered Rome in triumph. Caesar wanted to be consul,
which was the highest office in the Republic, and entered
Rome to run for consul in 60 BCE
In his campaign for consul of Rome, Caesar allied himself to
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great), a What can you infer from the author’s point of view?
formidable military figure with a long-term goal to get free
land for his veterans to settle. Marcus Licinius Crassus, said
to be the richest man in all of Rome, joined them in a threeperson political alliance for power. Caesar provided the
political skills, Pompey the influence, and Crassus the
money. To cement the alliance, Pompey married Caesar's
only daughter, Julia.
Central Idea
In the same year Caesar married Calpurnia, the daughter of
Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, who would be elected
consul the year after. Their political opponents called their
powerful political alliance "the three-headed monster."
This was the First Triumvirate. In 59 BCE Caesar won as
consul, but his opposition, Bibulus, won the other co-consul
position. Caesar turned Pompey's measures into law and
pushed Crassus's interests.
Evidence
The Gallic Wars
Caesar became proconsul of Gaul in 58 BCE His Gallic Wars
lasted from 58 to 49 BCE Caesar began with a lightning
campaign in Helvetii (modern-day Switzerland). The
following year he conquered the Belgic confederacy (in What can you infer from the author’s point of view?
modern-day Belgium) and the Nervii. Caesar, Pompey, and
Crassus met in Caesar's province in 56 BCE to renew their
Triumvirate. By now Caesar had taken great riches in battle
from the Gauls. By the end of 56 BCE he had decided to
annex all of Gaul (modern-day France). Pompey and Crassus
would be consuls the following year and promised to
extend his proconsulship of Gaul for five more years. With
this Caesar became even more ambitious.
Central Idea
In the middle of 55 BCE he planned an invasion of Britain.
Caesar's army marched to the river Thames and defeated a
large force, capturing the fort of King Cassivelaunus and
then returned to Gaul. Caesar's strong political power base
was waning, however, and his alliance with Pompey was
weakening. Crassus received command of the eastern
armies but was defeated by the Parthians, and he died in
the battle.
Evidence
Gauls had united under Vercingetorix. In 52 BCE Caesar
decided to attack with a siege at Alesia, and 250,000 Gauls
arrived to aid Alesia in fighting the Romans. The Romans
held, and Caesar's cavalry was able to surprise the Gauls
from the rear, sending them fleeing. Alesia surrendered, What can you infer from the author’s point of view?
and the population was enslaved. In politics, there was
rioting Rome and with one consul dead (Crassus), Pompey
served as "consul without a colleague." With Caesar's siege
of Uxellodunum in 51 BCE, Gaul was conquered. During his
campaigns Caesar wrote seven books, which form
Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic
War). According to Plutarch, Caesar had conquered 800
cities and subdued 300 tribes. There are figures cited that
he had 1 million men and boys become Roman slaves and
left another 3 million dead on battlefields
Descrive how the text presents the information on Caeser?