Julius Caesar

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Julius Caesar

• The Roman Republic

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Julius Caesar

• Tragedy or tragic melodrama about power,
  friendship, betrayal and revenge.
• Political history about the Roman Republic that
  existed long before the birth of Christ

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Roman Republic

• The Roman Republic existed as early as 510 B.C.
• Did not gain supremacy until 190 B.C.
• Roman government comprised two chief magistrates
  (A civil officer with power to administer and
  enforce law) or consuls they commanded the army
  and directed the government

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Roman Republic

• The consuls were elected annually
• The two magistrates or consuls
• a large group of lesser magistrates, the Senate
  was the aristocratic branch of Romes government.
  They had the legislative and administrative
  functions.
• Popular assemblies or Tribal Assembly, made of
  plebeians, elected tribunes and made laws for the
  common people.
• In times of crisis, a dictator could be
  appointed, a ruler with absolute power to make
  laws and command the army

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Roman Republic

• Power lay first in the hands of the wealthy
  patrician class (a person of noble or high rank
  aristocrat). They had most of the power
• Plebeians (common people) were eventually
  extended the right to hold state office and other
  rights of citizenship.

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Roman Republic

• Bribery, greed, and corruption were the real
  rulers of Rome.
• As the republic defeated country after country,
  the generals and Senators shared the plunder and
  became more and more wealthy.

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Roman Republic- Corrupt?

• Other sources of their wealth were the tribute
  paid by defeated countries and the bribes
  offered to them by people who wanted them to
  grant them favors or vote a certain way.
• Members of the Popular Assemblies accepted money
  for votes
• Small Farmers sold their land and moved to Rome
  and became unemployed.

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Roman Republic

• The conflict between the aristocrats and the
  common people grew, and several ambitious army
  commanders entered the political scene in Rome.
• In 60 B.C. the first triumvirate (a government of
  three officers or magistrates functioning
  jointly) was formed by Pompey, Crassus and Julius
  Caesar.

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Roman Republic

• Crassus died- conflict between Pompey and Caesar
  brought the country to civil war.
• Caesar defeated Pompey in 48 B.C.
• He returned to Rome a popular hero and enjoyed a
  very short-lived dictatorship.
• He was assassinated by Brutus, Cassius, and other
  members of a conspiracy who feared he would turn
  the republic into a monarchy with himself as
  king.

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Roman Republic

• After Caesars death in 44 B.C. Mark Antony and
  Caesars grand-nephew Octavius joined Lepidus in
  the second triumvirate which pledged to avenge
  Caesars assassination.
• The armies of Mark Antony and Octavius Caesar
  fought armies of Brutus and Cassius. Brutus and
  Cassius both committed suicide and Octavius
  emerged victorious.