Republic Civil Wars and Life & Career of Julius Caesar
Directions: Use 3-5 minutes to double check this subject’s Power School for your class grade and work listings verifying that all work is caught up. Read and heed embedded messages. Next, research your part of the following topics and figure out answers to the questions. Write your questions and detailed answers on lined paper or your notebook paper. These questions and related answers are required to be handed in, once the class discussion is completed. You are expected to use the time completely, be through and become knowledgeable. Write down any puzzles you have related to the material on your paper and bring them up during the class discussion. Warning: If you are found to be using your research time for other things, it will hurt your learning and grade. If you think or claim to be done, you are not! Once your assigned part is ready, then help others on your team or study the test resources from Mr. Spitzer’s web page for the upcoming test. No games, non-topic talk or other activities allowed during research time. The class will research as much as time allows before team sharing and whole class discussion. Since there is always more to learn, Mr. Spitzer encourages you to look into this topic more on your own time. Your class work grade includes: 1. Entire use of time while researching. 2. Answer questions & pay attention during team sharing. 3. Paying attention & participate during class discussion. 4. Turning in your readable questions & notes. Team members who do not do their share, provide hasty sloppy answers, disrupt others and use time ineffectivelyin the four grade aspects will be removed from the team and required to write out and turn in all answers on their own for the grade.
Topics to Research
Roman expansion across the Mediterranean Basin and north
Roman social, economic, military and political changes after the Punic Wars
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus
Sulla and Gaius Marius
Julius Caesar-military career
Julius Caesar political career
Julius Caesar in the Civil War
Julius Caesar dictator and reforms
Julian Calendar
Julius Caesar conspiracy against and murder
Later literature about Julius Caesar and use of name Caesar
Questions to be able to discuss
- How did the lives of the small Roman landowners change as Rome became a world power? How did their problems affect city life?
- Detail the process of Roman expansion between the end of 2nd Punic war and 44 B.C.
- What did Roman armies do that made them so formidable during the period of expansion? What happened?
- Why do you think Rome’s rapid expansion would result in a significant strengthening of the power of the Senate and a weakened role for the plebeians in the government?
- Who were Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus? Sulla? Gaius Marius? And why were they important?
- How did Caesar successfully conquer Gaul? Why did he write about his war?
- Was Julius Caesar morally or legally justified when he crossed the Rubicon? Evaluate his actions and explain.
- How did Caesar triumph over his foes and what did he do in Egypt?
- List Caesar’s reforms as dictator and explain about the calendar?
- Why was Caesar murdered? Who conspired against him and what were their motives?
- Why did the Republic fail to survive the challenges (and reforms) of Julius Caesar?
- What effect did Julius Caesar have on later history, terminology, and literature?