Julius Julius CaesarCaesar

BackgroundBackgroundo Until 509 B.C., Rome was a monarchyUntil 509 B.C., Rome was a monarchyo In that same year, the Brutus family In that same year, the Brutus family

evicted Tarquinius Superbus from the evicted Tarquinius Superbus from the throne and Rome was established as a throne and Rome was established as a republicrepublic

o By 100 B.C., Rome was a moderate By 100 B.C., Rome was a moderate democracy; the Senate was ruling Romedemocracy; the Senate was ruling Rome

o In 60 B.C., a triumvirate (3-man rule) of In 60 B.C., a triumvirate (3-man rule) of Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey was Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey was formed to govern Romeformed to govern Rome

o In 58 B.C., Caesar was made governor of part In 58 B.C., Caesar was made governor of part of Gaulof Gaul

o At the age of 44, he began his military career At the age of 44, he began his military career and proceeded to conquer all of Gauland proceeded to conquer all of Gaul

o After Crassus was killed in battle, trouble After Crassus was killed in battle, trouble began to develop between Pompey and began to develop between Pompey and Caesar.Caesar.

o Pompey persuaded the Senate to order Pompey persuaded the Senate to order Caesar to disband his army and return to Caesar to disband his army and return to RomeRome

o Caesar, instead, invaded Rome and made Caesar, instead, invaded Rome and made himself absolute ruler of Romehimself absolute ruler of Rome

o Pompey fled to GreecePompey fled to Greeceo Caesar defeated Pompey’s army, and Pompey Caesar defeated Pompey’s army, and Pompey

fled to Egypt where he was later murderedfled to Egypt where he was later murdered

o Three years after Caesar defeated Three years after Caesar defeated Pompey’s army, he defeated Pompey’s army, he defeated Pompey’s two sons.Pompey’s two sons.

o Caesar was made dictator for lifeCaesar was made dictator for lifeo Shakespeare begins his play with Shakespeare begins his play with

Caesar returning in victory from Caesar returning in victory from SpainSpain

o Caesar was the undisputed leader Caesar was the undisputed leader of the entire Roman worldof the entire Roman world

Rome at the time of Rome at the time of Caesar’s deathCaesar’s death

HeroHeroo Julius CaesarJulius Caesar is a tragedy, just is a tragedy, just

like like Romeo and JulietRomeo and Julieto Unlike Unlike Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet, Julius , Julius

Caesar is not the hero of the playCaesar is not the hero of the playo In this play, the hero is Brutus, a In this play, the hero is Brutus, a

man who believes his actions are man who believes his actions are for the good of his countryfor the good of his country

o Brutus dominates much of the Brutus dominates much of the playplay

SettingSettingo The setting is Rome, Italy, part The setting is Rome, Italy, part

of the continent of Europe, along of the continent of Europe, along the Tiber Riverthe Tiber River

Life in RomeLife in Romeo There were two classes of people There were two classes of people

in Romein Romeo The rich people were called The rich people were called

PatriciansPatricianso The poor people were called The poor people were called

PlebeiansPlebeians

PoliticsPoliticso Julius CaesarJulius Caesar is a political play is a political playo Political issues are the root of the Political issues are the root of the

tragic conflict in the playtragic conflict in the playo It is a play about a general who It is a play about a general who

would be king, but because of his would be king, but because of his own pride and ambition, meets an own pride and ambition, meets an untimely deathuntimely death

o Shakespeare appears to be saying Shakespeare appears to be saying good government must be based on good government must be based on moralitymorality

Focus of the Focus of the playplay

o The play focuses on men who The play focuses on men who were responsible for the were responsible for the assassination of Julius Caesar assassination of Julius Caesar and their ill-fated attempt to and their ill-fated attempt to control Rome.control Rome.

TimelineTimelineo Shakespeare compresses the Shakespeare compresses the

actual historical time of 3 years actual historical time of 3 years into six days.into six days.