Romes First Triumvirate

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Romes First Triumvirate

• 60 B.C.E. 53 B.C.E
• By Jim Ellis

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Rational

• To better gain an understanding of the political
  and social history of the world we live in, it is
  important for middle school world history
  students to be introduced to cultures other than
  their own. By introducing the students to these
  ancient world cultures they can begin to gain a
  better understanding of the current world they
  live in and how it progressed to its current
  state.

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Grade Level

• I will be teaching this lesson to seventh grade
  world history students.

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Content Standard

• Grade 7 World Studies Ancient Times to 1750
• In the seventh grade students begin the four-year
  historical sequence with a study of the ancient
  world. This study includes not only history but
  incorporates each of the other six standards into
  the chronology. Students learn that each
  historic event is shaped by its geographic
  setting, the culture of the people, economic
  conditions, governmental decisions and citizen
  action. Students also expand their command of
  social studies skills and methods.

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Objectives

• The seventh grade world history students will
• Identify the members of Romes first triumvirate
  with 100 accuracy.
• Explain the personal qualities of each ruler in
  the triumvirate, as well what each member had to
  gain by forming the triumvirate.
• Identify how the triumvirate was unique and
  important in the evolution of Roman society and
  life.
• Prepare a one page analytical paper discussing
  the importance of the triumvirate in Roman
  history and what effect, if any, the triumvirate
  had on the future of Rome and its governance.
• Based upon the criteria and examples discussed in
  class, each student must construct a model of
  Caesar and his army crossing the Rubicon River
  and returning home to Rome.
• Support or refute the idea that Romes first
  triumvirate rule was a pivotal turning point in
  the direction of Roman rule and history.

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What is a Triumvirate?

• Tri-um-vi-rate a government of three officers
  or magistrates functioning jointly.

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Members of the Triumvirate

• Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus Pompey the Great
  (106-48 BCE)
• Marcus Licinius Crassus (112-53 BCE)
• Gaius Julius Caesar Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE)

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Who Were These Men?
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Gnaeus Pompeius MagnusPompey the Great

• Pompey, who lived from 106-48 BCE, was a general
  in the Roman army under the rule of Sulla. When
  Sulla died in 78 BCE Pompey took this opportunity
  to ask the Senate for a series of special high
  commands so he could deal with the revolts that
  were plaguing the Republic at that time. Pompey
  quickly dealt with the many problems plaguing
  Rome while all the time gaining more Senate
  approved powers. In 70 BCE Pompey joined forces
  with the newly elected Consul, (and future
  triumvirate member), Crassus. Before Pompey
  joined the triumvirate he single-handedly redrew
  the map of the Eastern Mediterranean by
  developing new cities through conquest. Pompey,
  through his victories had increased Romes annual
  income by 70 percent.

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Marcus Licinius Crassus

• Crassus was know in late Republic as Romes
  richest man. Though not born into a life of
  money, Crassus gained much of his wealth through
  greedy schemes by becoming the cities greatest
  landlord. Crassus used this money to support
  political ambitions, which lead to his being
  appointed Consul in 70 BCE. Crassuss biggest
  military achievement was his defeat of Spartacus
  and the slave revolt in 71 BCE. Crassus, had
  joined forces in 70 BCE with Pompey, and would
  eventually help form Romes triumvirate by 60
  BCE.

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Gaius Julius Caesar

• Caesar, who was a military genius, was elected
  Consul in 59 BCE with the help of his triumvirate
  friends, Pompey and Crassus. Today Caesar is one
  of the most celebrated figures in all of Roman
  history. Caesar is known most notably for his
  impressive victories in Gaul, (modern-day
  France). Caesar remained in Gaul for seven years
  during his conquests which began shortly after
  his being elected Consul in 59 BCE. By the end
  of his conquests in Gaul, Caesar had gained a
  huge section of land for the Roman Republic
  stretching from the Pyrenees mountains in
  modern-day Spain and the Atlantic coast to the
  Rhine river of modern-day Germany.

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The Triumvirate

• With the alliance of Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar
  in 60 BCE Romes first triumvirate was born.
  Immediately following the formation of the
  triumvirate Caesar left to conquer Gaul for the
  next seven years leaving Pompey and Crassus to
  govern much of the Republic. Together the three
  rulers controlled most of the Roman military.
  Crassus, wanting to further his name and status,
  left to conquer Syria but was killed in 53 BCE.
  With the death of Crassus as well as Pompeys
  wife, who happened to be Caesars sister, the
  triumvirate disintegrated into a two man
  alliance. Finally in 52 BCE with Caesar still in
  Gaul, Caesars enemies persuaded the Senate to
  declare Caesar a public enemy and asked Pompey
  to save the Republic The alliance of Pompey
  and Caesar was now in serious disarray. The
  civil war that was to follow would prove to be a
  great power struggle between Pompey, Caesar, and
  the Senate, which there could be only one winner.

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Civil War and the fall of the republic

• As the civil war began Caesar and his army
  marched on Rome. While crossing the Rubicon
  river which served as the northern boarder of
  Italy Caesar declared, the die is cast,
  meaning, there was no turning back. Caesar
  easily swept to victory over the Senatorial army
  lead by Pompey in 48 BCE, and completely
  destroyed them in 45 BCE. Also in 45 BCE Pompey
  was stabbed to death while coming ashore in Egypt
  as he fled the wrath of Caesar. Caesar was now
  the sole ruler of Rome, and by 44 BCE Caesar had
  declared himself. dictator for life. That same
  year Caesar life was cut short as he was
  assassinated by sixty Senators fearing his grip
  on power. The assassination of Caesar was the
  first assassination of a head of state in Rome in
  eighty-nine years and would signal the start of
  the pattern of political scandal and murder. The
  Republic was now dead and the age of the Emperor
  was in place, Rome would stay much the same until
  the demise of the Western Empire in 476 CE.

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Learning Center Guidelines

• Students can use the learning center during the
  last fifteen minutes of class each day, lesson
  permitting, and throughout the period if they
  have shown that all other work has been
  completed. I will manage their use by keeping a
  record of who has accessed the center and for
  what period of time, to accomplish this each
  student must sign their name, the date, and the
  time the entered and left the center before and
  after each visit. The students will be allowed
  to use the center as much as they like as long as
  their work is completed and the lesson for the
  day has been completed. The students will get
  instructional feedback from the teacher as they
  are using the center and by completing and
  scoring the worksheets located in the learning
  center.

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Assorted Pictures of Ancient Rome
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(Flavian Amphitheater) Coliseum
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Coliseum Interior
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Imperial Fora
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Trajan's Column detail of Tiber river warf
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Basilica Julia overview looking South
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The Pantheon
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Various Ancient Rome Websites

• Julius Caesar Website
• http//homepages.iol.ie/coolmine/typ/romans/roman
  s6.html
• Welcome To The Romans Page
• http//ireland.iol.ie/coolmine/typ/romans/intro.h
  tml
• Ancient Rome
• http//www.kent.k12.wa.us/curriculum/soc_studies/r
  ome/Rome.html
• Feminae Romanae The Women of Ancient Rome
• http//dominae.fws1.com/
• Ancient Rome Images and Pictures
• http//clawww.lmu.edu/faculty/fjust/Rome.htm