People
Who was Cleopatra?
Cleopatra was a remarkably smart woman who became the Pharaoh of Egypt.
Who was Julius Caesar?
A very talented general and politician, particularly well known for his excellent strategy
What was Augustus' name before he was known as Augustus?
Octavian
How was Julius Caesar killed?
What were the names of the two people who stepped up to take control of Roman politics after the death of Caesar?
Marc Antony and Octavian
Where was Julius Caesar famous for conquering?
Gaul (modern day France, Britain, and Germany)
How was Augustus related to Caesar?
He was Caesar's adoptive son.
What was the name of Caesar's friend, who assisted in killing him?
Brutus
Fill in the blanks of this sentence:
Modern historians consider the naming of Augustus to mark the end of the Roman __________ and the beginning of the Roman ___________.
Modern historians consider the naming of Augustus to mark the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.
Who was Marc Antony?
He was Caesar's assistant who took control of Roman politics after Caesar's death. He led one side of the Roman Civil War.
Why was the Senate so worried about Julius Caesar? What did they think he would try to be named?
The Senate was worried that Caesar would become king, which would break their republic.
What was the cause of the second Roman Civil War?
Marc Antony fell in love with Cleopatra and divorced his wife, who was Augustus's sister. Augustus was offended by this and led a Civil War against Marc Antony.
What did the senators think would happen after they killed Caesar? What actually happened?
They thought they would be lauded as heroes. In actuality, they had to flee Rome to avoid being killed by an angry mob.
What is an empire?
an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress.
Who were Cleopatra and Caesar fighting with during the Seige of Alexandria?
Cleopatra's brother, Ptolomy.
What was the highest position of power that Julius Caesar held?
Dictator for life.
What does Augustus mean?
Revered one
Where did the war to avenge Caesar's death take place?
Philippi, Greece
What is a republic? Give at least one modern day example of a republic.
A republic is a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.
One modern day example of a republic is the United States of America.
Who was the leader of the Gauls and why was he painted in such a favorable way?
His name was Vercingetorix. He was painted in a favorable way because our famous paintings of him were painted by French people during the Renaissance, who believed themselves descendants of Vercingetorix.
Who was Caesar fighting with during the first Roman Civil War?
Pompey
What title did Augustus take after supposedly giving up his power to the Senate? (Bonus bucks if you can say why he claimed to give up power to the Senate.)
He took the title princeps, or first citizen.
Who gave the famous speech at Caesar's funeral that inspired the audience to get revenge for Caesar's murder?
Marc Antony