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The Romans: Biography Activity

Biography Activity
The Romans
Hannibal (247 B.C.–c. 183–181 B.C.)

© Bettmann/CORBIS
More About the Image:This bust of Hannibal from the first century B.C. is in the Naples Museum.
The son of a Carthaginian general, Hannibal assumed his father’s hatred of Rome at a young age. At 26, Hannibal became the Carthaginian commander-in-chief and moved quickly to exert his dominance of Spain. When this triggered Rome’s declaration of war in 219 B.C., Hannibal gathered an estimated 40,000 soldiers and 37 elephants and launched an invasion of Italy. In a bold, legendary trek, he led his forces through two mountain chains and across major rivers; during most of that journey, he and his army endured attacks by local tribes. By the time he entered Italy, his forces were depleted, and yet he beat Roman armies in several devastating battles. Hannibal stayed in Italy for 16 years, taking many towns but never Rome. When a Roman army invaded North Africa, he returned to defend Carthage, and there he suffered a huge defeat in 202 B.C. Nevertheless, Hannibal escaped and spent the rest of his life helping other Mediterranean kings fight the Romans.
1.Determining Importance What do you think is the most important thing to remember about Hannibal?
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2.Constructing ArgumentsConstruct an argument for or against Hannibal’s invasion of Italy.
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Gracchus Brothers: Tiberius (c. 169–133 B.C.) and Gaius (c. 160–121 B.C.)

Réunion des MuséesNationaux/Art Resource, NY
More About the Image:This bronze bust depicts the Gracchus brothers, or the Gracchi. It was created by Jean-Baptiste Claude Eugene Guillaume and is located in the Orsay Museum in Paris, France.
The Roman tribune Tiberius Gracchus realized that the development of large estates owned by wealthy nobles reduced the number of small peasant farms. As a result, many Roman citizens, who were farmers, became landless and moved to cities. The number of poor people in cities, therefore, increased dramatically. To solve this problem, Tiberius supported agrarian reforms that would help to restore small farms. However, he failed to gain the backing of many friends in the Roman Senate, who eventually turned against him. Some senators started a riot, and Tiberius was clubbed to death. His brother, Gaius Gracchus, continued the agrarian reforms and attempted to lessen the power of senatorial nobility. However, taking the law into their own hands, members of the Senate sent a military force against Gaius and his followers. During the conflict, Gaius committed suicide to avoid capture by political opponents.
3.Drawing Conclusions Do you think Rome during the time of the Gracchi had a large unemployment problem? Explain.
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4.Drawing InferencesWhy do you think Gaius Gracchus attempted to lessen the power of the senatorial nobility?
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Julius Caesar (c. 100–44B.C.)

© Bettmann/CORBIS
More About the Image:This statue of Julius Caesar is currently in the National Museum in Naples, Italy.
Julius Caesar was born into an aristocratic Roman family. In 59 B.C., he was elected as one of the two consuls of Rome who jointly served as the head of the government. He allied himself with Marcus Licinius and the general Pompey, thereby forming the First Triumvirate. During 58 to 50 B.C., Julius Caesar conquered Gaul. However, back in Rome, the triumvirate collapsed, and Pompey became sole consul. Julius Caesar then invaded Italy, causing Pompey to flee to Greece. Soon he set up a temporary government and was appointed dictator. Civil war followed for four years, during which he defeated Pompey. Julius Caesar was now the most powerful person in Rome. He replaced an outmoded system of government with a new order that later produced the Roman Empire. He also planned many other much-needed reforms.
In other words, when the Senate could no longer rule the complex republic that was Rome, Julius Caesar not only became a permanent dictator but also held the most exalted position to date in Rome. Caesar’s actions helped end the republic and begin the empire. However, in 44 B.C., conspirators assassinated him in an effort to restore the Roman Republic.
5.SummarizingHow did Julius Caesar become the most powerful person in Rome?
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6.HypothesizingIf Julius Caesar had not been assassinated, do you think he would have remained the dictator of Rome, or would he have stepped down from this position of absolute power?
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Cleopatra (69–30 B.C.)

DeA Picture Library/De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images
MORE ABOUT THE IMAGE:This bas-relief of Cleopatra is housed in the Louvre Museum in France.
In 51 B.C., Cleopatra VII came to the throne of Egypt and ruled jointly with her brother, Ptolemy XIII. However, Ptolemy soon had Cleopatra exiled. Then Julius Caesar entered Egypt and helped Cleopatra remove Ptolemy from the throne. When Julius Caesar returned to Rome, she followed him. However, after the Roman emperor was assassinated, Cleopatra returned to Egypt. In Tarsus, she met Mark Antony, who ruled the Eastern Roman Empire. The two fell in love, and Antony followed Cleopatra back to Egypt. However, about a year later, Antony went to Rome and, for political reasons, married the sister of Octavian, ruler of the Western Roman Empire. Then Antony returned to Egypt and Cleopatra, and he divorced Octavian’s sister. Octavian was furious. He defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the battle of Actium in 31 B.C. After this, Antony received a false report that Cleopatra was dead, and he committed suicide. Later, Cleopatra killed herself.
10.IdentifyingHow did Julius Caesar help Cleopatra?
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11.Determining Cause and EffectWhy did Octavian attack Antony and Cleopatra?
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Mark Antony (c. 83–30 B.C.)

© North Wind / North Wind Picture Archives
MORE ABOUT THE IMAGE:This image shows a woodcut of Marc Antony.
Mark Antony became the head of a division in Julius Caesar’s army in Gaul. After Julius Caesar’s assassination, Antony convinced the Romans to drive out the assassins. He then formed a triumvirate with Octavian and Lepidus. Together they fought the assassins and defeated them at Philippi. Antony then met the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, fell in love with her, and followed her to Egypt. When Antony went back to Rome, he and Octavian divided the Roman lands—Octavian took the West and Antony took the East. Antony married Octavian’s sister for political reasons, but in 34 B.C. Antony returned to Cleopatra in Egypt. He gave her honors that angered the Roman Senate. Because of this, the Senate refused to support him. Octavian defeated Antony at the battle of Actium in 31 B.C. Antony then heard a false report of Cleopatra’s death and committed suicide.
12.Summarizing How did Antony defeat Julius Caesar’s assassins?
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13.Identify What did Antony do that angered the Roman Senate?
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Octavian (63 B.C.–A.D. 14)

Spencer Arnold/ Hulton Archive/Getty Images
MORE ABOUT THE IMAGE:This is a bust of Octavian from around 30 B.C.
Octavian was born near Rome. His great-uncle Julius Caesar adopted him and made Octavian his heir. After Julius Caesar was assassinated, Octavian formed a triumvirate with Lepidus and Mark Antony. Together they defeated Julius Caesar’s rivals at Philippi in 42 B.C. Then Antony and Octavian divided Roman lands; Octavian ruled the West and Antony ruled the East, including Egypt. In 31 B.C. Octavian declared war on Egypt and defeated Antony. Historians view this date as the end of the Roman Republic and the start of the Roman Empire. Octavian became the master of Rome. Indeed, the Roman Senate gave Octavian the title of Augustus (the sacred one). Through a series of victories, Augustus expanded the empire. Then he set up a political system that lasted for about 300 years. He also promoted agriculture and education, supported the arts, and repaired the city of Rome.
14.Drawing Inferences Do you think being Julius Caesar’s heir helped Octavian gain power? Explain.
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15.Drawing Conclusions Why do you think historians mark the date of 31 B.C. as the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire?
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Augustus (63 B.C.–A.D. 14)

Roman/Bridgeman Art Library/Getty Images
More About the Image:This statue of Augustus is housed in the collections of Vatican City, Italy.
Octavian was born near Rome. His great-uncle Julius Caesar adopted him and made Octavian his heir. Significantly influenced by Julius Caesar, Augustus also began his rule of Rome at a time of political chaos. After Julius Caesar was assassinated, Octavian formed a triumvirate with Lepidus and Mark Antony. Together they defeated Julius Caesar’s rivals at Philippi in 42 B.C. Then Antony and Octavian divided Roman lands; Octavian ruled the West and Antony ruled the East, including Egypt. In 31 B.C. Octavian declared war on Egypt and defeated Antony. Historians view this date as the end of the Roman Republic and the start of the Roman Empire. Octavian became the master of Rome. Indeed, the Roman Senate gave Octavian the title of Augustus (the sacred one). As Rome’s first emperor, Augustus tried to maintain what had been best in republican rule, yet his power depended in large part on his army. Through a series of victories, Augustus expanded the empire. Then he set up a political system that lasted for about 300 years. He also promoted agriculture and education, supported the arts, and repaired the city of Rome.
7.ComparingHow were Julius Caesar and Augustus alike in their actions?
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8.Drawing Inferences Do you think being Julius Caesar’s heir helped Octavian gain power? Explain.
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9.Drawing ConclusionsWhy do you think historians mark the date of 31 B.C. as the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire?
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