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Shadows of the Empire: The Fall of the Republic

Shadows of the Empire: The Fall of the Republic. Opening Thought. “ Veni , Vedi , Vici : I came, I saw, I conquered,” -Julius Caesar. Roman Reformers. Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (Brothers)

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Shadows of the Empire: The Fall of the Republic

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  1. Shadows of the Empire:The Fall of the Republic

  2. Opening Thought • “Veni, Vedi, Vici: I came, I saw, I conquered,” -Julius Caesar

  3. Roman Reformers • Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (Brothers) • Attempting to help the landless poor, they took land from the rich and gave to the poor • They were killed • Marius (General) • Promised soldiers land in exchange for loyalty to him and not the state • Turned the legions into a professional army • One of his lieutenants, Lucius Sulla, went further…

  4. The Dictatorship of Sulla

  5. The Dictatorship of Sulla • 81 BC: General Sulla lost his command in Asia Minor and marched on Rome • Sulla institutes a reign of terror and seizes Rome itself • Sulla gave power to the Senate, eliminated popular assemblies, and then abdicates • After causing complete mayhem, he just leaves and goes home! • Sulla believed that he was creating a firm foundation for the republic • Actually established precedent that destroyed the republic

  6. The First Triumvirate

  7. Three Kings • Julius Caesar: Famous for his war against Vercingetorix and conquering Gaul • Marcus Crassus: The richest man in Rome • Fought Spartacus • Ordered the crucifixion of 6000 men along the Appian Way • Pompey Magnus: Commander of Spain and conqueror of Jerusalem • Lieutenant of Sulla • Established Herodean Dynasty recorded in the Bible

  8. Caesar: Tactician and Politician • Caesar: Tactician • Considered one of the greatest military minds in history along with Alexander the Great, Hannibal Barca, and Napoleon • Routinely defeated superior armies • Used engineering and geography to win battles • Caesar: Politician • Wrote his own biography and military records • Once claimed he defeated 430,000 enemies with less than 5000 soldiers and did not lose a single soldier • Caesar’s accounts made him very popular with the people

  9. The Battle of Alesia • The Gallic War: September, 52 BC • Vercingetorix has Caesar on the run through guerrilla tactics • Withdraws to Alesia • Caesar’s army numbers 40,000 • Vercingetorix’s army numbers 330,000 • Stations 80,000 in Alesia • 250,000 in relief forces outside the city • Caesar excels at siege warfare and cements his legacy as a great military commander

  10. Civil War • Caesar’s triumph in Gaul made him extremely popular with the people • Caused him to be feared by the Senate • Crassus dies in 53 • The Senate backs Pompey and orders Caesar to lay down his command and threatened the tribunes who opposed them • Caesar refuses and marches on Rome • His army crossed the Rubicon River, igniting civil war, and creating the phrase • Followed the precedent established by Sulla • Claimed to be defending the tribunes: representatives of the people

  11. Caesar’s Victory • Caesar defeated Pompey at Pharsalus, in 48 BC • Pompey flees to Egypt and is assassinated by agents of Ptolemy and Cleopatra • Caesar returns to Rome and is hailed as “dictator” in 47 BC • Established Julian Calendar, based on the Egyptian Solar Calendar, which lasted 365 days • Basis of our modern calendar • Julian Calendar lasts until 1582, when it is replaced by the current Gregorian calendar • The month of July was named in his honor

  12. The Darkest Day

  13. The Ides of March • Several senators feared Caesar’s ambition including Marcus Brutus, a close friend of Caesar • March 15, 44 BC: Assassination Day • Mark Antony, Caesar’s lieutenant, was warned of the plot the night before but was unable to inform Caesar • Caesar’s wife Calpurnia had a dream of the assassination and warned him not to go to the Forum on Capitoline Hill • A soothsayer warned Caesar to “beware the ides of March” • Caesar was stabbed 23 times, only one wound was lethal • Julius Caesar died at 55 years of age • The average U.S. President is inaugurated at 54

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