2.7: From Republic to Empire -TEACH-

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• Middelbare school
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Start Task (1 answer per group)
Ron and Hermione are working on a school paper.
Ron's subject is "Roman gladiators" while Hermione is doing a paper about
19th century painting style.
Both want to use this painting of gladiators made by a French artist in 1872.
But they don't agree on whether the painting is a primary or a secondary source.
What do you think?

The Time of Greeks and Romans

2.7: From Republic to Empire

people in this lesson

Julius Caesar

consul / dictator

Rome

Cleopatra

queen

Egypt

Octavian Caesar

a.k.a "Augustus"

1st emperor

Rome

Vercingetorix

chieftain

Gaul

Mark Anthony

Caesar's friend

Rome

Octavian Caesar, nephew of 

Julius Caesar

Octavian would become Rome's first EMPEROR

under the name 

AUGUSTUS

remember: it's Caesar, not Ceasar

Octavian's uncle:

JULIUS CAESAR

(100 - 44 BC)

• never an emperor
• never a monarch

• During his life (and death) Rome was a REPUBLIC

2.7: from Republic to Empire.

• What about? How the republic ended and Rome became a monarchy again.
• When? 1st century BC
• Who? Julius Caesar

Timeline:

• 100 BC: Caesar born in a patrician Roman family.
• 59 BC: elected consul (for 1 year)
• 58 BC: military commander of northern Italy (Roman part of Gaul)
• 58 - 51 BC: Gallic Wars: conquest of Gaul (France) 

Caesar as CONSUL: the highest office in the Republic

Caesar as a military commander.

Seeking glory, power and wealth

GAUL 

(= Gallië, = France)

Caesar set out to conquer Gaul.

The Gauls lived in tribes

They united under 

the leadership of Vercingetorix

Caesar in Gaul

When Caesar arrived in (the Roman part of) Gaul, he was given control of four legions, about 20,000 professional soldiers. 

Caesar decided to expand the Roman empire and started the Gallic Wars that would last from 58 BC until 51 BC. Gaul was populated by dozens of tribes, the largest of which numbered about 200,000 people. Within four years he managed to capture almost all of Gaul and moved the border from the Roman Empire to the Rhine. So he even conquered part of the Netherlands!

Some people in Rome were afraid of Caesar's power.

In 49 BC Caesar and his army set out for Rome, where he intended to be elected consul again.

The senate ordered Caesar to come without his army. Caesar refused. He crossed the Rubicon river (the border between Gaul and Italy) and entered Italy with his army.

The senate declared that Caesar was now an enemy of Rome. This marked the start of a civil war.

With his army Caesar defeated all his enemies (mostly senators) and chased them across the empire, even in Egypt. Here he fell in love with Cleopatra, sister of the pharaoh.

Back in Rome he was now the only ruler. He allowed the Senate to remain, but he did not want to share his power with the senators.

 

Caesar, Vercingetorix and the battle of Alesia have been pictured in several Asterix albums.

2.7: from Republic to Empire.

What about? How the republic ended and Rome became a monarchy again.
When? 1st century BC
Who? Julius Caesar

Timeline:

100 BC: Caesar born in a patrician Roman family.
59 BC: elected consul (for 1 year)
58 BC: military commander of northern Italy (Roman part of Gaul)
58 - 51 BC: Gallic Wars: conquest of Gaul (France) 

• 51 BC: Vercingetorix surrenders to Caesar
• 50 BC: the senate orders Caesar to return to Rome without his army.

NEXT TIME:

2.7: from Republic to Empire.

Timeline:

The Civil Wars (49 - 45 BC)

• 49 BC: Caesar crosses the Rubicon. Start of the Civil War between Caesar and consul Pompey.

NEXT TIME:

2.7: from Republic to Empire.

Timeline:

The Civil Wars

49 BC: Caesar crosses the Rubicon. Start of the Civil War between Caesar and Pompey.

• 48 BC: Caesar defeats Pompey. Pompey flees to Egypt (and is killed by pharaoh Ptolemy XIII)
• 48 BC: Caesar arrives in Egypt. Puts Cleopatra (sister of Ptolemy XIII) on the throne.

2.7: from Republic to Empire.

Timeline:

• 47 BC: birth of Cleopatra's son: Caesarion. (Caesar is said to be the father)
• 46 BC: Caesar returns to Rome as victor of the civil war. 
• 44 BC: he declares himself "dictator for life".
• 44 BC: Caesar is murdered (by a group of senators)

Some people in Rome were afraid of Caesar's power.

In 49 BC Caesar and his army set out for Rome, where he intended to be elected consul again.

The senate ordered Caesar to come without his army. Caesar refused. He crossed the Rubicon river (the border between Gaul and Italy) and entered Italy with his army.

The senate declared that Caesar was now an enemy of Rome. This marked the start of a civil war.

With his army Caesar defeated all his enemies (mostly senators) and chased them across the empire, even in Egypt. Here he fell in love with Cleopatra, sister of the pharaoh.

Back in Rome he was now the only ruler. He allowed the Senate to remain, but he did not want to share his power with the senators.

 

The senators encircle Julius Caesar in a painting by 19th-century artist Carl Theodor von Piloty.

After Caesar's death: more Civil Wars 

After Caesar's death, Rome still remained a republic. Caesar had no son that could succeed him. But he did have a nephew: Octavian Caesar, who was 19 years old when his uncle was murdered. Octavian found out that he had been adopted by Caesar as his heir. Octavian began to gather political support in the Roman Senate as well as military support in the form of Caesar's legions. He soon was a formidable power in the city and was elected to the position of consul.

His rival was Mark Anthony, a friend of Julius Caesar. Anthony wanted to become a dictator. He clashed with Octavian and a new Civil War broke out. 

Mark Antony allied himself with Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. At the sea battle of Actium, Octavian's troops defeated Antony and Cleopatra's armies. Upon their defeat, Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.

the sea battle of Actium, in which octivian's fleet defeated the fleet of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra

After learning about the defeat (and probable death) of her lover Mark Anthony at the Battle of Actium, Cleopatra committed suicide by letter herself be bitten by a poisonous snake.

Painting: The Suicide of Cleopatra, by Domenico Riccio (1516-1567).

15 Why was the war between Octavian and Mark Anthony a
"civil war"?

Some people in Rome were afraid of Caesar's power.

In 49 BC Caesar and his army set out for Rome, where he intended to be elected consul again.

The senate ordered Caesar to come without his army. Caesar refused. He crossed the Rubicon river (the border between Gaul and Italy) and entered Italy with his army.

The senate declared that Caesar was now an enemy of Rome. This marked the start of a civil war.

With his army Caesar defeated all his enemies (mostly senators) and chased them across the empire, even in Egypt. Here he fell in love with Cleopatra, sister of the pharaoh.

Back in Rome he was now the only ruler. He allowed the Senate to remain, but he did not want to share his power with the senators.

 

The end of the Republic, the birth of the Empire.

With Marc Antony dead Octavian was the most powerful man in Rome. In 27 BC the Senate gave him the title of Augustus (which means: the sublime) and he would be known by this name for the rest of his life. He became the ruler and emperor of Rome. The basic government of the republic, such as the senate and other officials, was still in place, but the emperor had the ultimate power.

When Augustus became emperor, Rome had experienced many years of civil war. He brought peace to the land and began to rebuild much of the city and the empire. He built many roads, buildings, bridges, and government buildings. He also strengthened the army and conquered much of the land around the Mediterranean Sea. Under Augustus' rule, Rome once again experienced peace and prosperity.

The next 200 years were years of peace for the Roman Empire. This period is often called the Pax Romana, which means "peace of Rome". Augustus is often given credit for establishing such a long period of peace.

16. Explain why so many people still think that Julius Caesar was a Roman emperor.

Monarchy

Republic

hereditary

dictator

dynasty

2 consuls

king / emperor

senate

elections

Some people in Rome were afraid of Caesar's power.

In 49 BC Caesar and his army set out for Rome, where he intended to be elected consul again.

The senate ordered Caesar to come without his army. Caesar refused. He crossed the Rubicon river (the border between Gaul and Italy) and entered Italy with his army.

The senate declared that Caesar was now an enemy of Rome. This marked the start of a civil war.

With his army Caesar defeated all his enemies (mostly senators) and chased them across the empire, even in Egypt. Here he fell in love with Cleopatra, sister of the pharaoh.

Back in Rome he was now the only ruler. He allowed the Senate to remain, but he did not want to share his power with the senators.

 

The name Caesar became the word for "emperor".

When Augustus became Rome's first emperor, the word "emperor", or "keizer", did not exist. Augustus did not call himself king or emperor, but used the title Princeps Civitatis, which meant "First Citizen".

But to honour his uncle Julius he put Caesar's name before his own title. So everone called him Caesar Augustus.

Augustus ruled up until his death in 14 AD. His step-son, Tiberius, became the second emperor of Rome.

Tiberius also took on Caesar's name to honor him, so everybody called him: Caesar Tiberius. 

The next emperors did the same: Caesar Claudius, Caesar Nero, Caesar Trajan, etc.

Eventually, the name Caesar became a title, meaning emperor. And we still see that in our word 'keizer" today.

The Roman historian Suetonius, who lived in the 2nd century AD, wrote a book about 12 successive Roman rulers; Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus and Domitian. 

Interesting facts about Julius Caesar and Augustus

• 
  
• Caesar was once kidnapped by pirates while still a young man. He joked with them that he would have them executed once he was free. They laughed, but Caesar had the last laugh when he later captured them and had them crucified.
• The month of July is named after Julius Caesar. Prior to this the month was called Quintilis, which means "the fifth month".
• The month of August is named after Augustus. Prior to this the month was called Sextilis, which means "the sixth month".
• Augustus rebuilt much of the city of Rome. He said on his deathbed that "I found a Rome of bricks; I leave to you one of marble".

Painting depicting the pirates, after being crucified. 

congratulations