Julius Caesar Notes

Today in Western Civ, we took some notes as Mr. Schick read important things form the text book.  We learned about Julius Caesar and his life.  He was from an old patrician family that had come down in the world.  He entered the city’s politics as a young man determined to regain the fame and power of his ancestor’s.  In 60 B.C., he began to collaborate with Pompey, an officer promoted by Sulla who had conquered many eastern Mediterranean lands.  The two allies formed a triumvirate which is an alliance of three politicians that enabled them to control the Republic’s decision making.  Caesar won an appointment as proconsul of a province that included the southern regions of Gaul.  Caesar conquered Gaul and even made forays into Britain and Germany.  Meanwhile in Rome’s eastern frontier, Crassus had led an army to crushing defeat by the neighboring empire of Parthia while Pompey had stayed in Rome growing jealous of Caesar’s success.  Pompey was later defeated by Caesar in Greece and murdered in Egypt, where he has taken refuge.  Caesar returned to Rome in triumph in 46 B.C. The Senate hailed him, however reluctantly, as the Father of the Fatherland.  The Senate now enlarged by his own appointees, paid him noble compliments and its members vowed to risk death in defense of his person.  Caesar showed respect to the Senate but treated it as a mere advisory body.