4.3 The Birth of an Empire

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

AGE 2. The Time of Greeks and Romans

4.3 The Birth of an Empire

What is this lesson about?

Family ties dominated Roman politics. During the struggle between populares and optimates, the populares had famous leaders like Marius and Caesar. Caesar tried to become sole ruler, but was killed. His nephew Octavian used his power to become the first Roman Emperor.

What you can explain /  do after this lesson

• Who was Julius Caesar?
• Why was Caesar murdered?
•  Which changes in the Republic led to a new monarchy?
• How did Octavian become the first emperor of Rome?

Word Duty

Pater familias: head of a Roman family

Patronage system: higher placed families would help their connections, and lower placed families did what they could to support their patrons

Gaius Marius: Roman general, who was not a patrician. Became consul 7 times and reformed the Roman army

Germanic Tribes: tribes from Germany that envied Rome the wealth and fertile lands of Gaul

Triumph: a procession through Rome, with the general dressed as a king and featuring the spoils of war

Julius Caesar: famous Roman general who conquered Gaul (58-50 BC). Killed because people thought he wanted to be king

Princeps senatus: first senator. Spoke first in the senate. One of Augustus’ powers

Caesar: title used by Augustus and later Roman emperors to describe their position. We call it an emperor as it is a monarch, but not a king

KEY WORDS

You can skip the first parts of the textbook.
Read "Return of the King¨
1a. Why did Caesar need special powers to stay in command of his legion?

Remember this question from lesson 4.1?
1b. Which of these 2 statements is correct?


I. a dictator had the same power as a king, but only for a short time
II. a dictator was only appointed in times of an emergency

1. both are correct
2. both are incorrect
3. only I is correct
4. only II is correct

1c. In 44 BC Caesar became a dictator for life.
Was there a difference between being a dictator for
life and a Roman King? Explain your answer.

2a. The source you read was published in the 17th century
by the playwright William Shakespeare. He used
primary sources such as the Roman author Suetonius
to write his play. Do you think it was a reliable source?
Explain your answer.

2b. What is Marc Anthony saying?

2c. “I thrice (3 times) presented him a kingly crown,
which he refused” What does Marc Anthony mean?

3a. Read "A new Caesar"
What did Octavian do differently than Caesar?

3b. Sometimes we say Octavian was ‘princeps inter pares’ (first among equals). Why?

4a. Read "Republic or monarchy?"
Sometimes we call the time of Augustus the principate (time of the princeps).
Why would we call it that instead of an empire or a republic?

4b. Why, do you think, Augustus preferred the title Caesar and not rex (king)?

Write down one question about something from this lesson that you find difficult.

congratulations