Turbulent Times Before the Roman Civil War 1. People to Know time period dominated by a few...
Transcript of Turbulent Times Before the Roman Civil War 1. People to Know time period dominated by a few...
2People to Know
• time period dominated by a few important political figures• contest for power• political and social unrest
3Cicero
• Born in 106 BC in Arpinum• No one in his family had held offices in Rome – he is a
“novus homō” – a new man to the government• In 63 BC he is consul and uncovers a conspiracy to
overthrow the government• Is best known as an orator, writer and senator• His letters to his friend Atticus give
us a daily account of what took place in Rome at this turbulent time.
4Gaius Julius Caesar
• Born in 100 BC• Was a Populares – wanted to help the people not the
aristocracy• Enters politics about 78 BC• 60 BC begins an alliance with Pompey and Crassus –
First Triumvirate• 59 BC – holds consulship • In Gaul from 58-50 BC – conquers huge expanses of
territory – loyal army
5Pompey
• Born 106 BC, dies 48 BC• consul three times• celebrates three military triumphs• began military career in Sulla’s army• military campaigns against pirates, Sicily, Africa, around
Black Sea• 60 BC- First Triumvirate with
Caesar and Crassus• Was an Optimate, who supported the
Senate and aristocracy
6Crassus
• 115 BC – 53 BC• Roman politician and general• wealthiest man in Rome and one of the richest of all time• gains political power by putting down a slave revolt• 70 BC- consulship of Pompey
and Crassus• First Triumvirate with
Pompey and Caesar
778-71 BC
• 78 Death of Sulla• 77 Pompey defeats political rivals in defense of Sulla• 76 Attempts to restore power to Tribunes• 75 Lex Aurelia- allows Tribunes to hold later offices,
Cicero Quaestor• 74 Rome acquires Bithynia and Cyrene, fights pirates• 73 Rising of Spartacus and slave revolt• 72 Spartacus continues revolt; Pompey’s rival
assassinated• 71 Spartacus defeated by Crassus; Pompey
returns from fighting
870-64 BC
• 70 Consulship of Crassus and Pompey• 67 Lex Gabinia gives Pompey extraordinary
command to defeat pirates• 66 Lex Manilia gives Pompey command
against Mithridates• 65 Crassus becomes Censor; Pompey
campaigns in Caucuses• 64 Pompey fights in Syria
963 BC
• Cicero becomes consul
• Caesar elected Pontifex Maximus
• Birth of Octavian (Augustus)
• Catilinarian conspiracy and executions
1062-58 BC
• 62 Clodius profanes Bona Dea festival;
Pompey conquers East
• 61 Pompey’s triumph;
Caesar governor of further Spain
Allogbroges revolt
• 60 Caesar returns from Spain
First Triumvirate
• 59 Caesar is consul
Pompey marries Julia
Caesar receives Cisalpine Gaul and Illyricum
• 58 Cicero exiled
Caesar defeats Helvetii
1157-55 BC
• 57 Riots in Rome between Clodius and Milo
Return of Cicero
Pompey concerned with food supply
Caesar defeats Belgae and Nervii• 56 disagree among triumviri
Cicero attacks Caesar’s land law
Caesar campaigns against Veniti and Morini• 55 2nd Consulship of Pompey and Crassus
Caesar massacres 2 tribes and invades Britian
1254-53 BC
• 54 Pompey governs Spain remotely (from Rome)
death of Julia
Riots in Rome
Caesar’s 2nd British expedition
Crassus prepares for Parthian campaigns• 53 more riots
Crassus defeated and killed
Caesar partly pacifies Gaul