Week 9

Question 1

True or False: The Julian family was very old, tracing roots right back to the very founders of Rome.

Answer 1

TRUE

Question 2

What does the name Caesar mean?

Answer 2

“Curly Hair”

People teased him for his balding despite his name

Question 3

Who did the Julian clan claim divine descent from?

Answer 3

Aeneas

Question 4

Who was Caesar’s most famous uncle?

Answer 4

Gaius Marius

Question 5

Who was Caesar’s first wife?

Answer 5

Cornelia, Cinna’s daughter

Question 6

Why is Caesar forced to divorce his first wife, Cornelia?

Answer 6

• Because Cinna, her father, was put on Sulla’s proscription list
• So, Sulla asked Caesar to divorce her

Question 7

What happens to Caesar when he flees east to evade Sulla?

Answer 7

• He is kidnapped by Pirates
• The pirates put him up for ransom for 20 talents, but Caesar told them that he is worth more than that, so they upped it to 50

Question 8

What did Caesar famously say to the pirates when they kidnapped him?

Answer 8

He told the pirates that as soon as they free him he would crucify them all, they thought he was joking (but he did in fact crucify them all when he returned)

Question 9

Which foreign King’s court did Caesar frequent after escaping the pirates?

Answer 9

• Nicomedes IV of Bithynia (Roman ally)
• There are rumours Caesars became lover of the king

Question 10

For what habit did Cicero make fun of Caesar for?

Answer 10

• Cicero made fun of Caesar when he said that he always effeminately cared how his hair looked (particularly him fixing his hair with his finger)

Question 11

What political position did Caesar begin at?

Answer 11

Quaestor

Question 12

True or False: Caesar gave eulogies for his aunt Julia and wife Cornelia. This was very unusual for the time.

Answer 12

TRUE

Question 13

How did Caesar get political support?

Answer 13

By ingratiating himself to the people

Question 14

What did Caesar do in honour of his father who had died 20 years earlier?

Answer 14

Hosted gladiatorial shows

Question 15

Who was the first to really realize that you could make a religious occasion a public event for people to enjoy?

Answer 15

Caesar

Question 16

How did Caesar manage to afford to host so many shows and events for the public?

Answer 16

Crassus’ money

Question 17

When was the first Triumvirate established?

Answer 17

60 BC

Question 18

Who were the 3 members of the triumvirate?

Answer 18

• Caesar
• Crassus
• Pompey

Question 19

Who was the one who first proposed the First Triumvirate?

Answer 19

Caesar

Question 20

True or False: The first Triumvirate was never a publicly official alliance.

Answer 20

TRUE

It was a secret alliance

Question 21

What does the word triumvirate mean?

Answer 21

A rule of three men

Question 22

True or False: Despite the triumvirate, Caesar, Pompey and Crassus remained rivals.

Answer 22

TRUE

Question 23

List the achievements the First Triumvirate got for Caesar:

Answer 23

• Caesar gained the consulship as he had the support of Crassus and Pompey
• Caesar passed legislation favourable to his allies (like granting land to Pompey’s veterans)
• Caesar secured an unusual ten-year proconsulship in Gaul (Cisalpine AND Alpine Gaul)

Question 24

What marriage alliance was included with the first Triumvirate?

Answer 24

• Caesar’s daughter, Julia, is married to Pompey

Question 25

What were the 3 types of Gauls:

Answer 25

- Cisalpine Gauls - Alpine Gauls - Free Gauls

Question 26

What Gaulish tribe burned their own villages in order to conquer the rest of Gaul?

Answer 26

The Helvetii

Question 27

What pretext did Caesar have for attacking the Helvetii?

Answer 27

- The Helvetii crossed into Roman territory while on their way to conquer Gaul

Question 28

Who helped Caesar to defeat the Germanic tribes across the Rhine?

Answer 28

- Gaulish allies

Question 29

How many Germanic tribesmen did Caesar kill?

Answer 29

80 000

Question 30

Who did Caesar fight after the Germanic wars?

Answer 30

- Many of his Gaulish allies turned against him - The Northern Gauls (Belgians) started to attack Caesar

Question 31

What weakness did Caesar exploit in the Gauls?

Answer 31

- The Gaulish in-fighting - The Gaulish wars against the Germanii aswell

Question 32

In what year did Caesar first adopt his offensive imperialistic policy?

Answer 32

56 BC

Question 33

Who was Vercingetorix?

Answer 33

- Name means Great King of Warriors - Arverni chieftain - Banded together a coalition of Gauls to fight Caesar - Lost at the battle of Alesia - Vercingetorix was imprisoned for 5 years in Rome, being subsequently executed

Question 34

When was the Battle of Alesia?

Answer 34

52 BC

Question 35

When did the First Triumvirate break down?

Answer 35

- Upon the death of Crassus in 53 BC

Question 36

Describe the 2 factions created after the dissolution of the First Triumvirate:

Answer 36

I. Cesareans → (Caesar and Mark Antony) II. Republicans → (Pompey and Cato the Younger)

Question 37

What Republican leader feared that Caesar wanted sole rule, like Sulla had done earlier?

Answer 37

Cato the Younger

Question 38

Why did Cato the Younger ally himself with Pompey?

Answer 38

- He feared that Caesar wanted sole rule, like Sulla had done earlier - He believed that Pompey wanted to prevent this from happening as well

Question 39

In what year did Caesar's governorship of Gaul expire? What did he do?

Answer 39

- 49 BC, his governorship expired - Customarily, he was supposed to disband his troops and return to Rome - But, he didn't

Question 40

What were the problems with Pompey's army?

Answer 40

- He had 2 legions - BUT, they had previously fought for Caesar, and so, were more loyal to Caesar than to him

Question 41

In what year did Caesar cross the Rubicon?

Answer 41

49 BC

Question 42

How was Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon a declaration of war?

Answer 42

Because it was illegal to bring troops into Italy

Question 43

Why did Caesar cross the Alps in January instead of waiting for March ?

Answer 43

Because he needed to rely on his speed

Question 44

What happens at the Senate meeting convened by Pompey to decide what to do when Caesar crossed the Rubicon?

Answer 44

- Pompey wins the verdict, declaring Caesar as public enemy - BUT, Marc Antony is Tribune of the Plebs and vetoes the decision

Question 45

Where does Pompey flee before Caesar reaches Rome?

Answer 45

Greece

Question 46

What does Caesar do when he reaches Rome in 49 BC?

Answer 46

- Has Senate declare him dictator - Gets the senate to declare Pompey as public enemy - Made Marcus Antonius as Master of the Horse

Question 47

True or False: Caesar chose to forgive his enemies in the Senate, and NOT persecute anybody

Answer 47

TRUE

Question 48

Why did Caesar choose NOT to immediately pursue Pompey when he fled east?

Answer 48

- To give himself time to repair things in Rome (ex. Repairing interest rate), so that Italy was stable when he left for war out east