Background Information for Reading Julius Caesar

Ancient Rome and Shakespeare

Shakespeare

Birthday is usually noted as April 23, 1564.

Born in Stratford-on-Avon, England to John and Mary Shakespeare

Married Anne Hathaway at age 18, with whom he had 3 children

Shakespeare, cont.

Lived most of his life in London, working for several different acting companies

Joined Lord Chamberlain’s Men and became the principal writer in 1594

After achieving financial success, moved back to Stratford-on-Avon sometime between 1611 and 1613.

Shakespeare, cont.

Helped build the Globe Theatre in London, completed in 1599

Three levels of seating could hold up to 3,000 people

“the wooden O” Burned down in 1613 when a cannon

set off during a production of Henry VIII ignited the thatched roof of the gallery

The Globe Theatre

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Shakespeare, cont. Lived during the Elizabethan era, also

known as the English Renaissance Queen Elizabeth I ruled from 1558-

1603 Shakespeare died in 1616 at the age of

52

Shakespeare’s Work

Known for both his poetry and his plays Wrote primarily 3 types of plays:

– Comedy (Taming of the Shrew, Comedy of Errors)

– Tragedy (Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Othello)

– History (all the plays named after Kings of England- Henry V, Richard III, Henry VIII, etc)

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar-Set in Ancient Rome

-Based on historical information as recorded by the historian Plutarch

Ancient Rome

What was Ancient Rome?

An ancient civilization that was one of the most powerful and influential civilizations ever!

Time Period

Ancient Rome was one of the most powerful civilizations from 510 BC- 476 AD

That’s nearly 1000 years!

Government

Started as a monarchy, then became a republic, then became an empire that stretched out through Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Important Cultural Events

Ancient Rome contributed greatly to the development of law, war, art, literature, architecture, technology and language in the Western world, and its history continues to have a major influence on the world today.

Julius Caesar is based on the life of the real Julius Caesar

Lived 100-44 B.C. Grew up and was educated in Rome Started a political and military career

and eventually formed the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus.

Crassus died in 53 BC, leaving Pompey and Caesar

Caesar, cont. Pompey stayed to rule Rome, thus

gaining the trust of the Roman people, while Caesar went off conquering foreign lands

Caesar wanted to return to Rome and run for an elected office but keep his conquered land. Pompey and the senate said he must forfeit his conquests and return as a private citizen.

Caesar, cont.

Caesar decided to incite a civil war rather than give up his foreign land

Caesar and Pompey fought and Caesar won, so Pompey fled to Egypt where he was killed by the young pharaoh, Ptolemy

Caesar returned victorious to Rome and that is where the play begins…

Points to remember:

Pay attention!!!

Ancient Rome was essentially a democracy before Caesar, but Caesar instituted a dictatorship, thus many found him dangerous.

The Roman people had loved Pompey, but now they had switched their allegiance to Caesar.

Therefore, many people did not like Caesar and wanted him removed from power!

Questions?

Enjoy the play!