Caesar to the Empire Study Guide Summarized

1. Two vocabulary sheets

a. The Rise of Caesar
b. The Roman Empire
2. Four Power Points
a. Spartacus
i.
Spartacus was a member of the Roman Legion that left his post
and became known as a deserter
ii.
he and his wife were captured and forced into slavery
iii.
since he was well trained by the Legion, he was made into a
Gladiator for public entertainment
iv.
in 73 B.C.E., Spartacus, leading a group of 200 slaves, escaped
bondage exclaiming If you have to fight, fight for freedom!
v.
Spartacus would lead this group of slaves throughout Rome
freeing other slaves in the process for a total of two years (73-71
B.C.E.)
vi.
the army of slaves led by Spartacus would grow to 70,000 strong
vii.
they were all well trained as a result of their gladiatorial
background
viii.
the former gladiators took no prisoners and collected any
weapons possible
ix.
each of Spartacuss men realized they were fighting for their
freedom and would prefer to die trying to get it than to live
another day as a slave
x.
the Gauls that were with Spartacus decided they would work
better by themselves
xi.
this left roughly 32,000 soldiers loyal to Spartacus
xii.
instead of enjoying freedom outside Roman territory, the slaves
continued to stay in Rome increasing their chances of capture
xiii.
when the Gauls broke off, they were led by Crixus
xiv.
he would face off against the Romans and win a quick victory, but
the Legions would return killing 20,000 Gauls
xv.
the task of capturing the slaves fell upon Crassus, the wealthiest
man in Rome
xvi.
he raised an army of 32,000 legionaries
xvii.
Crassus decided to shadow Spartacus and the slaves to watch
their tactics and get a better feel for the enemy
xviii.
Rome wanted results and Crassus was not providing them

xix.

as a punishment, Crassus lined up 480 Roman soldiers and had

every 10 of them beaten or stabbed to show what would happen
if Crassuss orders were not followed and Spartacus continued to
have success
xx.
Rome decided not to take any chances and called in Pompey from
Spain
xxi.
while on his way from Spain, Pompey happened to come across
5,000 escaped slaves
xxii.
he subdued their attack and won a quick victory for Rome
xxiii.
Crassus finally scored his victory over Spartacus, but would now
have to share the glory with Pompey
xxiv.
Spartacus and his remaining slaves were expecting help from
pirates to escape to Sicily
xxv.
when no one showed up, Spartacus and his soldiers were stuck
xxvi.
Crassus had a ditch and a wall constructed forty miles long,
trapping Spartacus
xxvii.
Pompey received the Triumph for his success against Spartacus
and the slaves
xxviii.
Crassus, despite spending more time on the issue, received the
Ovation
xxix.
along the Via Appia, the main road leading into Rome, Crassus
ordered that 6,000 slaves be crucified every 40 yards to remind all
people that entered or left what would happen if they were to
rise against Rome
xxx.
for their actions, both Pompey and Crassus would be rewarded
with powerful positions
xxxi.
both men also owed a debt to Caesar, so they would connect him
with government positions
b. Veni, Vedi, Vici
i.
Caesar was born on July 13, 100 B.C.E.
ii.
Caesar had studied the laws of Rome while he was in his early
twenties.
iii.
He gained notoriety by helping Pompey succeed to the consulship
alongside of Crassus in 70 B.C.E.
iv.
Caesar was named as head of public affairs (Curule Aedile) by 65
B.C.E., which included games and entertainment paid for by
Crassus that were Bread and Circuses. This gave him enormous
popularity.
v.
In 61 B.C.E., Caesar would be named governor of Spain.

vi.
vii.

viii.
ix.

x.
xi.
xii.

xiii.
xiv.
xv.

xvi.
xvii.

xviii.
xix.

In 60 B.C.E., Julius Caesar gave his daughter Julia to Pompey in

marriage, solidifying a temporary bond between the two.
The First Triumvirate was created in 60 B.C.E.
1. The three leaders of Rome would be placed in different
portions of the empire to maintain control.
a. Crassus: Syria
b. Pompey: Spain
c. Caesar: Gaul
While in Gaul, Caesar gained even more popularity among his
soldiers through military victories.
He expanded the Roman territory into northern Gaul by defeating
the Gallic tribes under their leader Vercingetorix, while keeping
written records of each battle.
He sold thousands into slavery and made a fortune.
Caesar also entered Germania and Britain.
One of the most impressive ideas Caesar came up with as a
general was from 55 B.C.E. in Gaul - he wanted to cross into
Germanic territory.
Troubled with the Rhine River between himself and his enemy,
Caesar ordered a bridge constructed on the spot.
The legions created a bridge over 1000 feet across and that could
stand the weight of 40,000 soldiers.
After ten days, Caesars troops created and crossed the bridge
over the Rhine River, but the Germans on the opposite side of the
Rhine ran away after he built the bridge.
Caesar marched through Germanic territory for 18 days, then
went back to Gaul simply to say he could go anywhere he wanted.
While Caesar was away, his loyal followers in the Senate were
attempting to carry out his political agenda, but made a fretful
decision.
In 53 B.C.E. when Crassus was killed in the battle of Carrhae, the
Roman senate decided to name Pompey as the sole leader.
Pompey
1. Had already had huge success in Spain.
2. Was elected Consul.
3. Eliminated piracy on the seas of the east.
4. Helped put down the revolt of Spartacus.
5. Reputation as the greatest general.

xx.
xxi.

xxii.

xxiii.
xxiv.
xxv.
xxvi.
xxvii.
xxviii.
xxix.
xxx.
xxxi.
xxxii.
xxxiii.
xxxiv.
xxxv.

xxxvi.
xxxvii.

xxxviii.

6. Did not consider Caesar a threat because he was away in

Gaul.
Caesar was given direct orders to give up his troops and return to
Rome where he would surrender to authorities.
It was against Roman law to cross into the city of Rome with a
legion, but Caesar chose to attempt it anyway with 5000 of his
most loyal soldiers (more would be added). He crossed the
Rubicon in 49 B.C.E.
Having lost the connection between them (Julia had died), Caesar
felt no loyalty to Pompey. He would find himself going against all
of Rome in 48 B.C.E.
If he were victorious, he would control Rome.
If he lost, he would be killed as a traitor.
Pompey decided to have Caesar chase after him rather than
meeting him in open combat within Rome.
Pompey prepared for Civil War.
Caesar defeated all that tried to stop him and he would continue
to follow Pompey to Macedonia (one year later).
Battle of Pharsalus.
Caesar was outnumbered 2 to 1.
Pompey had the high ground, access to the seas for supplies, and
most of the area was loyal to Pompey for his previous success.
Pompey wanted to wait out a battle instead of fighting to
attempt to exhaust Caesars troops.
48 B.C.E. Pompey and Caesar face off in battle at Pharsalus.
One problem: Everyone was dressed the same.
Pompey gained a quick advantage, but Caesar changed his
formations to act more like a phalanx.
Caesar outmaneuvered Pompey and forced him to flee to Egypt,
where his own centurions killed him allegedly on the order of the
12 year old Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII.
Cleopatra was 18 and an unhappy co-regent to Ptolemy XIII.
When Caesar arrived, he was given Pompeys head in a sack, but
was angry with the gesture. Caesar offered to have a full military
funeral for Pompey.
He met Cleopatra VII and had a child with the Queen of Egypt that
she named Ptolemy Caesar (Caesarion).

xxxix.

xl.
xli.
xlii.

xliii.
xliv.

xlv.

xlvi.
xlvii.

xlviii.

xlix.
l.

li.

With Romes support (specifically Caesar), Cleopatra would be

named sole ruler of Egypt after Ptolemy XIII was drowned in the
Nile.
After Caesars death, Cleopatra would marry one of Caesars
generals, Marc Antony, and have several more children.
When he lost to Octavian in battle, she killed herself rather than
watching the events.
Past Dictators:
1. Cincinnatus
2. Fabius Maximus
3. Sulla
The major difference was that they gave up their power. Caesar
named himself dictator for life.
After another military victory at the Battle of Zela in modern
Turkey in 47 B.C.E., Caesar simply sent the note stating Veni, Vidi,
Vici I came, I saw, I conquered.
Influence
1. Julian Calendar
2. Increased Senate
3. Took care of his veteran soldiers with land
4. State grain from Africa for the poor
5. Citizenship to Roman allies
6. Forced the wealthy of Rome to hire free Romans as well as
slaves.
7. Forum of Caesar/Temple of Venus
SPQR
1. Senatus Populusque Romanus
In 45 B.C.E., Caesar had named his successor as his grandnephew
Octavian. If Octavian died before Caesar did, Brutus would
become his heir.
Caesar was stabbed on the Ides of March (3/15/44 B.C.E.) in the
Senate by sixty different senators at least twenty-three times. His
dying words were E tu Brute?
Caesars body actually became the worlds first recorded autopsy
performed by a doctor named Antistius.
After the death of Caesar, there was another Civil War. On one
side were the people that killed Caesar. On the other were those
loyal to Caesar.
Rome decided to return to the model of a triumvirate.

lii.

The three leaders of Rome included:

1. Marc Antony
2. Octavian
3. Lepidus
liii.
Unfortunately, there was little in common between the three
leaders and conflict grew quickly.
liv.
Lepidus was forced into retirement which left only Octavian and
Antony to rule. Neither wanted to give up power, so they ended
up fighting over control of Rome.
lv.
In 31 B.C.E. Octavian crushed the navy of Antony and Cleopatra
off the coast of Greece at the Battle of Actium.
lvi.
At the age of 32, Octavian was named Imperator.
lvii.
Octavian took on the name Augustus, which meant revered one.
1. He declared a period of Roman Peace.
2. He created a system of roads that will connect the entire
empire.
3. He reformed taxes while making coins uniform.
4. He created a standing army and navy.
5. He created a courier system.
6. He created the Praetorian Guard.
7. For his work in restoring peace to Rome, he was granted
the title Pater Patriae and Princeps.
c. Second Triumvirate
i.
The death of Julius Caesar caused a major problem in Rome, who
would lead?
ii.
The Senate could not decide what should happen to the assassins,
so they declared immunity for all involved, but also said Caesars
will would be enacted
iii.
Caesar named Octavian as his heir, but not all the Romans were
interested in having another rendition of Caesar as the leader.
iv.
More fighting would take place in the form of Civil Wars only to
be stopped by the Second Triumvirate.
v.
Octavian would control the west
vi.
Lepidus would control Spain and Africa
vii.
Antony would control the east
viii.
The Second Triumvirate was created legally with five year term
limits.

ix.

x.
xi.
xii.

xiii.

xiv.
xv.
xvi.
xvii.

xviii.
xix.

xx.
xxi.
xxii.
xxiii.
xxiv.

xxv.
xxvi.

Among their first official acts was the proscriptions (executions)

of several Senators to provide the punishment for Caesars
assassination.
In order to put their differences aside, Antony married Octavians
sister Octavia, and Octavian married Antonys daughter Clodia.
Marrying into each others families would not actually help their
differences.
Lepidus was not a strong candidate for the Triumvirate and was
the easiest member to influence. He was influenced to resign
his position by Octavian leaving only Antony as competition.
Antony allegedly fell in love with Caesars ex, Cleopatra VII ruler
of Egypt. They created an alliance that was turned into
propaganda for Octavian.
Cleopatra had gained full control of Egypt thanks to Julius Caesar.
Antony and Cleopatra had several children, including twins (one
boy and one girl) despite Antonys marriage to Octavians sister.
Octavian pointed out that Antony, who was now living in
Alexandria, could take over all of Rome with Cleopatras help.
He gained the support of the Roman Senate by publishing
Antonys will that provided for Cleopatras children and that his
body would
be shipped to Alexandria, Egypt and not to Rome.
Since the second five year term of the Triumvirate was coming to
an end, the Senate announced their support of Octavian and
declared war on Egypt.
Octavian made sure the declaration of war was against Egypt and
not Antony to avoid the label of another Civil War.
Even though Egypt was not a dominant force compared to Rome,
they did have a strong navy.
The Battle of Actium took place in 31 B.C.E. off the coast of
Greece.
Many of Antonys soldiers defected back to Rome to avoid being
considered traitors of the Republic.
Cleopatra did not anticipate being outnumbered so quickly and
decided to retreat with her sixty ships soon after the battle
started.
Antony followed Cleopatra leaving the rest of his ships to be
destroyed.
The few soldiers left with Antony deserted in favor of Rome.

xxvii.

Cleopatra sent a note to Antony stating that she had killed

herself.
xxviii.
Out of despair, Antony stabbed himself with his own sword.
xxix.
Cleopatra then tried to meet with Octavian to establish an
alliance, but he refused her advances.
xxx.
Cleopatra then killed herself with a poisonous snake (an Asp).
xxxi.
In 27 B.C.E. Octavian gave all power back to the Senate
acknowledging the end of the war as well as the end of his time in
office.
xxxii.
The Senate granted Octavian the position of Princeps (first
citizen) and called him Augustus (revered one).
xxxiii.
Augustus now had absolute power of Rome handed to him as
Imperator and this officially started the Roman Empire.
1. He declared a period of Roman Peace.
2. He created a system of roads that will connect the entire
empire.
3. He reformed taxes while making coins uniform.
4. He created a standing army and navy.
5. He created a courier system.
6. He created the Praetorian Guard.
d. Pax Romana
i.
Augustus
1. Augustus was the first Emperor of Rome.
2. He ruled from 27 B.C.E. through 14 C.E.
3. The official title was Imperator which translates to
Commander in Chief.
4. He was also named Pater Patriae, which means father of
the country as well as Princeps, which meant first citizen.
5. He was truly one of the greatest leaders of Rome.
ii.
Tiberius
1. Tiberius was named by Augustus as his successor and took
over in 14 C.E. through 37 C.E.
2. He had been a successful military leader in Germania.
3. Tiberius managed to keep the economy of Rome stable.
iii.
Caligula
1. Caligula was one of the worst emperors of Rome.
2. He was completely crazy.
3. Caligula ruled from 37 C.E. through 41 C.E.

iv.

4. He abolished sales tax, allowed exiled Romans to return,

and increased the court systems power.
5. Caligula named his horse, Incintatus, as a consul.
6. Excessive Celebrations
a. Caligula was known for his wild parties.
b. He followed an Epicurean philosophy.
c. He built a massive barge designed for floating
parties, then sunk it on purpose just to watch people
panic.
d. Caligula was even known to kill people in cold blood
because he wanted to watch people die.
7. Frayed Ends of Sanity
a. Some of the reasons people give for Caligulas
insanity include inbreeding and lead poisoning.
b. Since he was a terrible leader, his own private
guards, the Praetorian Guard, killed him.
c. They also killed everyone associated with Caligula
for the betterment of Rome, except for his
handicapped uncle Claudius.
d. Claudius was cowering behind a curtain crying and
the Praetorian Guard felt bad for him.
Claudius
1. Claudius ruled from 41 C.E. through 54 C.E.
2. While he was cowering behind the corner, he decided to
bribe the Praetorian Guard to make him emperor.
3. During his time as emperor, Britain was conquered and two
major aqueducts were built to provide fresh water to more
of the Roman people.
4. Aqueducts
a. The two aqueducts were the Anio Novus and the
Aqua Claudia.
b. Each had a gradient of a few inches every one
hundred feet to allow gravity to draw the water
from the source.
5. Death of Claudius
a. Claudius married his niece Agrippina.
b. She already had a son named Nero. It is believed that
Agrippina agreed to marry her uncle just to get her
son as the heir to the throne.

c. To make sure Nero would become emperor,

Agrippina fed Claudius a poisoned mushroom.
v.

vi.

Nero
1. Another of the terrible rulers of Rome, Nero ruled from 54
C.E. through 68 C.E.
2. One positive thing Nero attempted was to give slaves
rights. This would not last long.
3. Legend says that Nero burned a huge portion of Rome and
fiddled as it burned. The fiddle was not invented yet, so
he was most likely playing the lyre.
4. Nero blamed the Christians for the fire.
5. Nero built a massive palace with a vineyard and a
man-made lake on the land that was destroyed.
6. Overthrown
a. Nero killed two of his wives and ordered the murder
of his mother.
b. When the guard came for Agrippina, she wanted
them to stab her in the stomach for that was where
Nero formed.
c. Neros excess was a major cause for alarm and the
Praetorian Guard attempted to overthrow him. He
committed suicide.
Vespasian
1. Vespasian was not related to Nero or any of the previous
emperors but he was a consul under Nero.
2. He ruled from 69 C.E. through 79 C.E.
3. He was a successful military leader that had defeated a
Jewish rebellion.
4. To give back to the people of Rome, Vespasian had the
massive palace of Nero filled in and started construction on
the Flavian Amphitheater (better known as the Colosseum)
on the spot.
5. Legacy
a. The Colosseum would take eight years to build from
72 through 80 C.E., but Vespasian would not live to
see the finished result.
b. Two of his sons would take over after his death.
c. First was Titus, then was Domitian.

vii.

viii.

d. During Tituss reign, Mt. Vesuvius erupted

destroying both Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Nerva and Trajan
1. Nerva
a. Nerva would rule from 96 through 98 C.E. and is best
known for adopting Trajan as an heir.
2. Trajan
a. Trajan ruled from 98 through 117 C.E. as the first
non Italian emperor (he was from Spain).
b. He expanded Rome to the largest scale the empire
would ever reach (3.5 million total miles over three
continents).
c. He focused on repairing roads, harbors, and
aqueducts while also building public baths on land
that once belonged to Nero.
d. Forum
i.
Trajans forum would be a massive shopping
plaza that would include both Greek and Latin
libraries.
ii.
It had a market with over one hundred fifty
stores.
iii.
There was also a court system built into the
forum.
iv.
Trajan removed half a hill to build it.
e. Column
i.
Trajan also had a massive marble column
constructed to show his successful invasion of
Dashia.
ii.
This column was one hundred twenty-five feet
with reliefs etched into every section.
Hadrian
1. Hadrian was adopted by Trajan for his military success. He
would rule from 117 C.E. through 138 C.E.
2. Hadrian realized Rome was too big and decided to limit the
size of the empire.
3. He constructed Hadrians Wall across Britain.
4. This stretched seventy-three miles and was fifteen feet
high with an addition of six foot ramparts.
5. Pantheon

a. Hadrian is also the emperor responsible for the

construction of the Pantheon.
b. This is a massive temple dedicated to all the Gods.
c. At the center of the dome was an open circular
skylight known as an Oculus (Latin for eye).
ix.
Last Good Emperors
1. Antonius Pius ruled from 138-161 C.E.
a. Public works projects.
b. Art and science.
c. Helped orphans gain land rights in Rome.
2. Marcus Aurelius ruled from 161-180 C.E.
a. Reformed Roman law to benefit the lower class.
b. Economic stability (but not for long).
3. Fall of the Republic into the Triumvirate
a. caused by a major shift in economic status
b. numerous victories equaled more slaves
c. more slaves = fewer jobs for Romans
d. poor farmers could not fix the damage cause by both Rome and
Carthage. farmers had to sell their land and moved to the cities = Ghetto
e. wealthy (10%) are going to purchase the land to create Latifundias
f. what political position would these people have?
g. Reforms
i.
Gracchus Bros.
1. Tiberius -> give land
2. Gaius -----> back
ii.
both Gracchus Bros. end up killed about 12 years apart
1. Tiberius in 133 B.C.E.
2. Gaius in 121 B.C.E.
iii.
the Gracchus Bros. lost favor with the most powerful group in the
Republic - the Senate
iv.
to give land back to the poor, it would take it away from the
Patricians
v.
the Senate had shown their power and willingness to kill
vi.
Marius
1. 107 B.C.E.
2. military leader that started paying soldiers - paid by the
general
3. because they were paid by the general, that is who the
soldiers were loyal to

4. poor people were recruited and promised money and land

5. this got the poor a job, money and out of the ghetto
vii.
Sulla
1. dictator - takes over with force by using his military in 82
B.C.E.
2. Sulla made the Senate stronger and the Assembly lost
power
3. Sulla stepped down as dictator and Rome experienced 50
years of civil wars starting around 78 B.C.E.
viii.
people used their private armies to gain power just like Sulla
ix.
this led to the rise of the first Triumvirate to stop the Civil Wars
1. Crassus
a. richest man in Rome -> fire department
b. Spartacus
2. Pompey
a. military
b. pirates, Spartacus
c. married to Caesars daughter - Julia
3. Caesar
a. military
b. Gaul
x.
how do you make everyone happy?
1. free food
2. entertainment
3. Bread and Circuses
a. paid by Crassus
b. thought of by Caesar
xi.
made to help poor people forget the economic problem in Rome
xii.
the first Triumvirate was a success until Crassus died leaving
Pompey (loved by Senate) vs. Caesar (loved by people)
4. Caesar in Gaul
a. 58 - 52 B.C.E.
b. primary source for these battles was Caesar himself
c. Caesar had ten legions vs. 70,000 Gauls, more than 6,000 soldiers per
legion
d. Vercingetorix was the leader of Gaul, he had been trained under Caesar
in the legion
e. this started with 70,000 Gauls marching on the Roman city of Orleans (in
Gaul) killing 5,000 men, women, and children

f. Vercingetorix and most of Gaul did not want Rome anywhere in their
country
g. by killing civilians, the Gauls were showing a deep hatred for Rome
h. New Orleans takes its name from Orleans, Gaul (France)
i. Vercingetorix was willing to do anything to defeat Rome, including
destroying his own land
j. the Gauls practiced Guerilla Warfare and a policy of scorched earth
where they burned their own crops and fields
k. the Gauls attacked the Romans at Dijon and retreated quickly
l. Caesar followed the Gauls and Vercingetorix to Alesia and surrounded
the town with catapults and ballistas
m. Caesar wanted to starve the Gauls into surrender so he built a ten mile
wall around Alesia
n. Caesar then built two trenches and a second wall
o. 1st Trench was 20 feet by 20 feet
p. 2nd Trench was 15 feet by 8 feet
q. 2nd wall = 12 feet high
r. 10,000 civilians were stuck inside with the Gauls
s. Vercingetorix sent for help with his cavalry
t. Caesar built another wall to keep the Gauls reinforcements out
u. Vercingetorix sent out 10,000 civilians (women, children) but Caesar
rejected the offer
v. reinforcements arrived led by Commodus, another former member of
the legion under Caesar
w. the Gauls attack Caesar at night from inside and out
x. five days pass why wait??? to starve everybody out
y. another two front attack on the Romans led by the Gauls took place
after the five days
z. Caesar fought and won sparing the Gauls (slaves) only after
Vercingetorix surrendered himself for execution
aa. while Caesar was having success in Gaul, his daughter Julia (wife of
Pompey) died in childbirth in 54 B.C.E. The child died a few days later
bb.one year later in 53 B.C.E., Crassus was defeated and killed at Carrhae,
Syria
cc. the Senate named Pompey as the only Consul and the First Triumvirate
was over
dd.Caesar would now face off against Pompey in a Civil War