The murder of Caesar
In this course, we have tried to prepare you to understand and discuss important topics that are often in the news.
Sometimes the news is good news, but all too often we learn of problems and crises.
Once in a while an event is extraordinary and will change the world.
In this lesson, we focus on an event that changed history forever.
This historical event was the assassination of the Roman leader, Julius Caesar.
We will never know how history might have been different had this event not taken place,
but we can speculate what caused it and how it might had been prevented.
This kind of language is often used in news reports.
One of the most famous assassinations in history was the assassination of Julius Caesar.
At the time of his death in 44 B.C., he was the leader of the Rome empire.
His title was "Dictator for life" which meant he had absolute authority for as long as he lived.
He had gained this power through his successes as military commander.
In fact, some historians considerhim to be one of the greatest military commanders in history.
Once gaining power he fought against corruption and began to restructure the government.
For example, he increased the number of senators and changed how they were chosen.
Instead of being elected, they could be appointed, even if they were not from Rome.
These actions reduced the power of individual senators and shifted the power to Caesar himself.
In doing so, he created many enemies, especially among the aristocracy.
However he also had many admirers who supported his efforts to end corruption.
What’s an example of how he restructure the government?(He changed how senators were chosen.)
Why would many aristocracies against to him? (He was reducing their power.)
The aristocracy is the ruling class of a country.
Caesar was stabbed to death by a group of Rome senators on March 15th, 44 B.C.
He was scheduled to leave Rome three days later to fight another war.
He had appointed members of his army to rule the empire while he was away.
This action anger many in the Rome senate who didn't want to take orders from Caesar’s subordinates.
He should have been aware that many of the senators hated him, but he dismissed his security force, not long before the assassination.
If he hadn't dismissed it, the assassination attempt might not have succeeded.
What should he have been aware of? (Many of the senators hated him.)
He appointed members of his army to rule while he was away from Rome.
He should have been aware that many of the senators hated him.
If he hadn’t acted against the aristocracy, he wouldn’t have created as many enemies.
He may have been overconfident and unaware of the magnitude of the danger facing him.
On the day of his assassination, it is reported that Caesar may have been handed a warning note as he entered the senate.
If he did receive such a note, he didn't read it.
It seems that as if he was in a state of denial and refused to recognize the danger that was facing him.
Once he had entered the senate, he was surrounded by senators holding daggers or knives.
The first blow hit Caesar in his neck and drew blood,
Then the other senators joined in and stabbed him repeatedly until he fell to the floor and died.
In total he suffered 23 knife wounds.
He may have been overconfident and in a state of denial.
How did Caesar contribute to his own death?(He refused to realize how his actions had angered so many powerful men.)
If he did receive the warning note and had read it, he might have escaped.
With his death power shifted to his adopted son, Octavian, who vowed revenge against the assassins.
Eventually, several of the leading of assassins were either killed or committed suicide.
After a power struggle, Octavian strengthened his position as leader and ruled the empire for many years.
In the end, Caesar's attempts to end corruption failed.
He contributed to his own death by not realizing how his actions had angered so many powerful men.