Name: Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

1 Gaius Julius Caesar was born in Rome around July 12, 100 BCE. Not long after, Rome fell into anarchy. Consul Lucius Sulla unleashed his army, turning the stone streets crimson with blood. He managed to snatch power away from the Senate in 82 BCE. He then purged the city of his enemies and corrupt leaders. During that time, Caesar married the daughter of a wealthy man. Sulla ordered him to divorce his wife, but Caesar refused. He was banished from Rome and spent many years in Greece studying the art of debate, honing his skills.

2 After Caesar received a pardon, he returned to Rome. Sulla retired from public life and then died in 78. His vicious grab for power in many ways laid the blueprint for future strong men. Watching Sulla’s rise most likely strengthened Caesar’s own ambition. Now, his passion for politics was boundless. He had spent years fighting in Spain, gaining vital military knowledge. In 65 BCE, he was made aedile, where he arranged public games for the masses in Rome. He shrewdly knew this post would afford him fame and support from the people. After making a name for himself, he was made praetor three years later. This was one position below the office of consul, or leader of the republic.

3 In 61 BCE, Caesar was named the governor of Spain, a chance to hone his battle skills and increase his fame. The more land he conquered, the more Rome would worship him. However, Caesar needed more support back in Rome. In 59, he formed a pact with Generals Pompey and Crassus, or the First Triumvirate. Through a strong hand and bribes, Caesar was also named consul, or leader of the Senate. Caesar then bullied through the Senate their agenda. This only increased the Senate’s mistrust of him.

4 In Spain, Caesar took firm control and then attacked Gaul, or today’s France, in 58 BCE. His legions, with sword and spear, bloodied the barbarians on the battlefield. The Romans tore the German tribes to ribbons there and shoved them back across the Rhine River. Through military genius, he won all of Gaul in 50 BCE. Back in Rome, his fame soared to new heights. He then toyed with invading Britain but gave up the when word arrived that General Crassus had been killed in battle. Pompey was then the only consul in Rome with legions, a grave danger. Caesar had no intention of being robbed of his spoils of war, so he turned his sights to Rome.

5 Julius Caesar marched back toward Rome a hero of the people. Pompey grew alarmed at the power Caesar now had with the people. He also could not ignore the mighty legions loyal to Caesar. In 49, the Senate allied itself with Pompey. They ordered Caesar to disband his legions which was an insult. Caesar stated that he deserved to be consul due to his conquests for Rome. Also, giving up his army would make him vulnerable to Pompey. Caesar compromised and proposed that both men to give up their armies. The Senate turned around and gave total power to Pompey. Caesar marched his men over the Rubicon River and into northern Italy. Pompey’s legions surrendered to Caesar rather than fight the famous general. Pompey had little choice but flee Rome, and Caesar made himself dictator.

6 In 48 BCE, Caesar’s legions crushed Pompey in Greece, forcing him to flee once again. Caesar pursued him to Egypt when word came that Pompey had been murdered. While there, Caesar met Cleopatra, the disputed queen of Egypt. He fought a series of battles to win Cleopatra the throne from her brother. Afterwards, he battled Pompey’s supporters and sons, crushing all of them. He was made dictator for life and had total power over the Roman Empire.

7 Caesar designed a new calendar that made life easier. He also reformed the government of the empire. He made many people in conquered lands Roman citizens. Caesar took steps to rid Rome of corruption among its leaders. His policies tried to elevate the poor as well. He tried many times to convince the people that he had no plan of becoming a king. Still, the Senate and population were not convinced. They felt Caesar had a secret intent of becoming one. Thus, when Caesar arrived in the Senate on March 15, 44 BCE, many of the members stabbed him to death. As a reminder, they laid his corpse at the foot of a statue of Pompey. Those men Caesar had pardoned for fighting against him just a year earlier.

8 Julius Caesar was a superb general and politician. He also excelled at public speaking and writing. He wrote fantastic texts on his conquests of Gaul that provide great insight to this controversial man. His quest for total power served as the model for his adopted son. This man who would become the first emperor of the Roman Empire.

G6.3 ©2014 IntegratedLessons.com 1

Julius Caesar

G6.3 ©2014 IntegratedLessons.com 2

3. What happened when Caesar tried to compromise with the Senate?

A. they backed Pompey B. they agreed to his terms D. they never responded

4. What caused Caesar to be sent away from Rome?

A. he spoke out against Sulla

B. he refused to divorce his wife

C. he disagreed with Sulla’s policies

5. What made Caesar end his hunt for Pompey and help Cleopatra instead?

A. Pompey escaped B. he wanted to add Egypt to the empire

C. he felt Cleopatra should stay queen

6. What did Caesar accomplish while dictator?

A. he killed Crassus, helped the poor, and made a new calendar

B. he helped the poor, created a new calendar, fought corruption, made people citizens

C. he made a new calendar,ended corruption, and gavepower to the Senate

7. Why was Caesar’s body placed at the foot of Pompey’s statue?

A. as a sign of respect B. so guards would notknow who committed themurder

C. as a coincidence

D. he began a revolt

C. they changed the deal

D. as a sign of the Senate’s revenge for Pompey

D. he defeated thebarbarians, created a newcalendar, and helped thepoor

D. word of Pompey’s murder

Directions: Read each question and circle the best answer.

A. he asked the Senate for their support

B. he won battles to win the people’s support

C. he attacked the Senate D. he formed the First Triumvirate

2. How did Caesar become famous in Spain?

A. he stopped German tribes from taking more land

B. he fought tribes to a draw

D. he lost battles

1. To strengthen his power in Rome, what did Caesar do in 59 BCE?

C. he attacked Gaul and won

Julius Caesar

G6.3 ©2014 IntegratedLessons.com 3

10. Which of the following events happened last?

A. Marcus Crassus died in battle

B. Caesar forgot about Britain

C. Caesar marched on Rome

D. Caesar was named consul

11. Which question would best be answered by this article?

A. Why did Sulla order Caesar to divorce his wife?

B. What Senators murdered Caesar?

C. How did Caesar rise to power?

D. How was Pompey murdered?

12. Which would be the best title for paragraph 2?

A. The Start of Caesar’s Rise

B. Public Games C. The Death of Sulla D. Caesar’s pardon

13. Which resource would have the most information about the article?

A. a website on Roman Legions

B. a biography on Lucius Sulla

C. an ancient Roman poem

14. The phrase “…bloodied barbarians on the battlefield.” from paragraph 4 is an example of—

A. alliteration B. hyperbole C. simile D. personification

D. a website on the First Triumvirate

9. What does the phrase “…used a strong hand…” mean from paragraph 3?

A. he used intimidation B. he compromised C. he begged D. he asked nicely

8. Which would be the best title for paragraph 3?

A. Gaining Knowledge and Power

B. Conquering Lands C. Crassus and Pompey D. Battles in Spain

Name: Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar*

1 Gaius Julius Caesar was born in Rome around July 12, 100 BCE. Not long after, Rome fell into anarchy. Consul Lucius Sulla unleashed his army, turning the stone streets crimson with blood. He managed to snatch power away from the Senate in 82 BCE. He then purged the city of his enemies and corrupt leaders. During that time, Caesar married the daughter of a wealthy man. Sulla ordered him to divorce his wife, but Caesar refused. He was banished from Rome and spent many years in Greece studying the art of debate, honing his skills.

2 After Caesar received a pardon, he returned to Rome. Sulla retired from public life and then died in 78. His vicious grab for power in many ways laid the blueprint for future strong men. Watching Sulla’s rise most likely strengthened Caesar’s own ambition. Now, his passion for politics was boundless. He had spent years fighting in Spain, gaining vital military knowledge. In 65 BCE, he was made aedile, where he arranged public games for the masses in Rome. He shrewdly knew this post would afford him fame and support from the people. After making a name for himself, he was made praetor three years later. This was one position below the office of consul, or leader of the republic.

3 In 61 BCE, Caesar was named the governor of Spain, a chance to hone his battle skills and increase his fame. The more land he conquered, the more Rome would worship him. However, Caesar needed more support back in Rome. In 59, he formed a pact with Generals Pompey and Crassus, or the First Triumvirate. Through a strong hand and bribes, Caesar was also named consul, or leader of the Senate. Caesar then bullied through the Senate their agenda. This only increased the Senate’s mistrust of him.

4 In Spain, Caesar took firm control and then attacked Gaul, or today’s France, in 58 BCE. His legions, with sword and spear, bloodied the barbarians on the battlefield. The Romans tore the German tribes to ribbons there and shoved them back across the Rhine River. Through military genius, he won all of Gaul in 50 BCE. Back in Rome, his fame soared to new heights. He then toyed with invading Britain but gave up the when word arrived that General Crassus had been killed in battle. Pompey was then the only consul in Rome with legions, a grave danger. Caesar had no intention of being robbed of his spoils of war, so he turned his sights to Rome.

5 Julius Caesar marched back toward Rome a hero of the people. Pompey grew alarmed at the power Caesar now had with the people. He also could not ignore the mighty legions loyal to Caesar. In 49, the Senate allied itself with Pompey. They ordered Caesar to disband his legions which was an insult. Caesar stated that he deserved to be consul due to his conquests for Rome. Also, giving up his army would make him vulnerable to Pompey. Caesar compromised and proposed that both men to give up their armies. The Senate turned around and gave total power to Pompey. Caesar marched his men over the Rubicon River and into northern Italy. Pompey’s legions surrendered to Caesar rather than fight the famous general. Pompey had little choice but to flee Rome, and Caesar made himself dictator.

6 In 48 BCE, Caesar’s legions crushed Pompey in Greece, forcing him to flee once again. Caesar pursued him to Egypt when word came that Pompey had been murdered. While there, Caesar met Cleopatra, the disputed queen of Egypt. He fought a series of battles to win Cleopatra the throne from her brother. Afterwards, he battled Pompey’s supporters and sons, crushing all of them. He was made dictator for life and had total power over the Roman Empire.

7 Caesar designed a new calendar that made life easier. He also reformed the government of the empire. He made many people in conquered lands Roman citizens. Caesar took steps to rid Rome of corruption among its leaders. His policies tried to elevate the poor as well. He tried many times to convince the people that he had no plan of becoming a king. Still, the Senate and population were not convinced. They felt Caesar had a secret intent of becoming one. Thus, when Caesar arrived in the Senate on March 15, 44 BCE, many of the members stabbed him to death. As a reminder, they laid his corpse at the foot of a statue of Pompey. Those men Caesar had pardoned for fighting against him just a year earlier.

8 Julius Caesar was a superb general and politician. He also excelled at public speaking and writing. He wrote fantastic texts on his conquests of Gaul that provide great insight to this controversial man. His quest for total power served as the model for his adopted son. This man who would become the first emperor of the Roman Empire.

G6.3* ©2014 IntegratedLessons.com 1

Julius Caesar

Directions: Read each question and circle the best answer.

A. he asked the Senate for their support

B. he won battles to win the people’s support

C. he attacked the Senate D. he formed the First Triumvirate *

2. How did Caesar become famous in Spain?

A. he stopped German tribes from taking more land

B. he fought tribes to a draw

D. he lost battles

3. What happened when Caesar tried to compromise with the Senate?

A. they backed Pompey * B. they agreed to his terms D. they never responded

4. What caused Caesar to be sent away from Rome?

A. he spoke out against Sulla

B. he refused to divorce his wife *

C. he disagreed with Sulla’s policies

5. What made Caesar end his hunt for Pompey and help Cleopatra instead?

A. Pompey escaped B. he wanted to add Egypt to the empire

C. he felt Cleopatra should stay queen

6. What did Caesar accomplish while dictator?

A. he killed Crassus, helped the poor, and made a new calendar

B. he helped the poor, created a new calendar, fought corruption, made people citizens *

C. he made a new calendar,ended corruption, and gavepower to the Senate

7. Why was Caesar’s body placed at the foot of Pompey’s statue?

A. as a sign of respect B. so guards would notknow who committed themurder

C. as a coincidence

D. he began a revolt

G6.3* ©2014 IntegratedLessons.com 2

1. To strengthen his power in Rome, what did Caesar do in 59 BCE?

C. he attacked Gaul and won *

C. they changed the deal

D. as a sign of the Senate’s revenge for Pompey *

D. he defeated thebarbarians, created a newcalendar, and helped thepoor

D. word of Pompey’s murder *

Julius Caesar

10. Which of the following events happened last?

A. Marcus Crassus died in battle

B. Caesar forgot about Britain

C. Caesar marched on Rome *

D. Caesar was named consul

11. Which question would best be answered by this article?

A. Why did Sulla order Caesar to divorce his wife?

B. What Senators murdered Caesar?

C. How did Caesar rise to power? *

D. How was Pompey murdered?

12. Which would be the best title for paragraph 2?

A. The Start of Caesar’s Rise *

B. Public Games C. The Death of Sulla D. Caesar’s pardon

13. Which resource would have the most information about the article?

A. a website on Roman Legions

B. a biography on Lucius Sulla

C. an ancient Roman poem

14. The phrase “…bloodied barbarians on the battlefield.” from paragraph 4 is an example of—

A. alliteration * B. hyperbole C. simile D. personification

G6.3* ©2014 IntegratedLessons.com 3

D. a website on the First Triumvirate *

9. What does the phrase “…used a strong hand…” mean from paragraph 3?

A. he used intimidation * B. he compromised C. he begged D. he asked nicely

8. Which would be the best title for paragraph 3?

A. Gaining Knowledge and Power *

B. Conquering Lands C. Crassus and Pompey D. Battles in Spain

Julius Caesar G6 SJulius Caesar G6 A