Julius Ceaser
Julius Caesar was one of ancient Rome's most skilled military generals and political leaders. While in power, Caesar changed Roman government and added much land to Rome's control. His life has been the subject of many plays, movies, books, and poems. Even Caesar's death could not reverse the political and social that changes Rome experienced during his rule. Julius Caesar was born in 100 B.C. in Rome. As the son of a wealthy Roman citizen, Caesar received his education in both Rome and Rhodes, a Greek island. Many leaders of the day considered Caesar an intelligent and talented young man. For a time, he served as a military officer in Asia Minor. Today the country of Turkey fills Asia minor. In 69 B.C. he began his political career and soon became one of Rome's most popular leaders. He held many important political offices including aedile (EE•dil) and praetor (PREE•ter). Caesar joined two other powerful leaders in an alliance, or an agreement to cooperate. In 60 B.C. Caesar entered into a triumvirate with Marcus Licinius Crassus (lah•SIH•uhs KRA•suhs) and Gnaeus Pompey (guh•NAY•uhs PAHM•pee). A triumvirate is a ruling group of three leaders. Together Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus ruled the lands
that Rome controlled. Before the triumvirate the Roman government was a republic. In a republic citizens elect leaders to make and enforce laws. Free men in the Roman Republic formed a voting group called an assembly. This group elected the highest political officials, such as the two consuls and the eight praetors. These officials were advised by a governing body called the senate. Only some of Rome's most powerful citizens could hope to become senators. Although the triumvirate did not do away with these political offices, it did control the workings of the government.
In 59 B.C. Caesar was elected a consul. He then was made the governor of Gaul for five years. At the time Roman Gaul included the region of present-day Provençe, France, and the area near and around the Alps. As governor, Caesar was also in charge of the military there. He immediately set out to conquer the rest of Gaul that Rome did not rule. He defeated the local tribes and claimed the land east of the Rhine River for Rome. The land added an additional 640,000 square miles (about 1,700,000 sq km) to the Roman Empire. Caesar also attacked Britain in 55 B.C. and 54 B.C.
Caesar sent back to Rome a series of reports called Commentaries on the Gallic Wars that described his battles in Gaul. By this time the triumvirate was beginning to fall apart. Crassus died during a military battle in 53 B.C. Then Pompey became jealous of Caesar's successes in Gaul and joined Caesar's enemies in the senate. The senate ordered Caesar to give up command of his army. Caesar refused. Pompey and Caesar began to fight for control of Rome. In 49 B.C. a civil war or, a war between groups of people within the same place or country, began. Caesar and his army left Gaul. They crossed the Rubicon River, the border between Gaul and Italy, and defeated Pompey's forces. Pompey then escaped to Egypt. There he was killed by Egypt's leader, King Ptolemy. King Ptolemy was trying to win Caesar's support. In Egypt, Caesar becamenvolved in a struggle for leadership of the region. An Egyptian civil war had broken out between King Ptolemy and his sister Cleopatra. With Caesar's help Cleopatra soon became the ruler of Egypt. The two then began a relationship that upset many Romans. After returning from Egypt, Caesar set up a dictatorship in Rome. As the empire's only leader, he began to make changes, such as reorganizing the Roman calendar and starting colonies. Caesar also granted Roman citizenship to people living in those colonies. Caesar lengthened the term of his rule first to five years and then for life. Romans were accustomed to leaders giving up their office each year. Upper-class leaders and senators in Rome became angered by Caesar's total control of the government. A group that included senators and other government leaders agreed to stop Caesar. On March 15, 44 B.C., Caesar was killed by the group in the senate building. After Caesar's death Rome fell into 13 years of civil war.
REference:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/hss/biographies/caesar/
that Rome controlled. Before the triumvirate the Roman government was a republic. In a republic citizens elect leaders to make and enforce laws. Free men in the Roman Republic formed a voting group called an assembly. This group elected the highest political officials, such as the two consuls and the eight praetors. These officials were advised by a governing body called the senate. Only some of Rome's most powerful citizens could hope to become senators. Although the triumvirate did not do away with these political offices, it did control the workings of the government.
In 59 B.C. Caesar was elected a consul. He then was made the governor of Gaul for five years. At the time Roman Gaul included the region of present-day Provençe, France, and the area near and around the Alps. As governor, Caesar was also in charge of the military there. He immediately set out to conquer the rest of Gaul that Rome did not rule. He defeated the local tribes and claimed the land east of the Rhine River for Rome. The land added an additional 640,000 square miles (about 1,700,000 sq km) to the Roman Empire. Caesar also attacked Britain in 55 B.C. and 54 B.C.
Caesar sent back to Rome a series of reports called Commentaries on the Gallic Wars that described his battles in Gaul. By this time the triumvirate was beginning to fall apart. Crassus died during a military battle in 53 B.C. Then Pompey became jealous of Caesar's successes in Gaul and joined Caesar's enemies in the senate. The senate ordered Caesar to give up command of his army. Caesar refused. Pompey and Caesar began to fight for control of Rome. In 49 B.C. a civil war or, a war between groups of people within the same place or country, began. Caesar and his army left Gaul. They crossed the Rubicon River, the border between Gaul and Italy, and defeated Pompey's forces. Pompey then escaped to Egypt. There he was killed by Egypt's leader, King Ptolemy. King Ptolemy was trying to win Caesar's support. In Egypt, Caesar becamenvolved in a struggle for leadership of the region. An Egyptian civil war had broken out between King Ptolemy and his sister Cleopatra. With Caesar's help Cleopatra soon became the ruler of Egypt. The two then began a relationship that upset many Romans. After returning from Egypt, Caesar set up a dictatorship in Rome. As the empire's only leader, he began to make changes, such as reorganizing the Roman calendar and starting colonies. Caesar also granted Roman citizenship to people living in those colonies. Caesar lengthened the term of his rule first to five years and then for life. Romans were accustomed to leaders giving up their office each year. Upper-class leaders and senators in Rome became angered by Caesar's total control of the government. A group that included senators and other government leaders agreed to stop Caesar. On March 15, 44 B.C., Caesar was killed by the group in the senate building. After Caesar's death Rome fell into 13 years of civil war.
REference:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/hss/biographies/caesar/