Junku's Historical Investigation

Name: Junku Kang Due Date: October 15 or 16 Section: C / D / E / F

Historical Investigation for Julius Caesar

By Junku Kang

Primary Source:

This picture (painting) shows Julius Caesar and his army crossing the Rubicon. I chose this picture

because it actually shows what Julius Caesar did and I liked this picture because he cried out “The die is cast�

This picture is connected to the book because it was the starting of the war between Caesar and Pompey

Secondary Source Article: http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar086860&st=julius+caesar

I’m using an article for my secondary source. It is about Julius Caesar like the book but written by another person.

I chose an article for my secondary source because it tells about Julius Caesar’s life and main events like the book. It has more specific evidences than the book for big events.

After reading the book, I liked Julius Caesar overcome his young age suffer because it might be hard to survive and his character courage and adventurous.

Summary and Review: Your review should try to persuade another grade 8 student to read it. a. Begin with a brief summary of your book.

Summary: The book tells about Julius Caesar’s life and what did he do for achieve dictator.

He was keeping in check by many others since young age but he made great success at wars and spread Roman Empire’s land. Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus made a political alliance among them but it did not last long. Many people were jealous at him and Pompey wanted Caesar to stay back. However, Caesar won many battles against Pompey and finally, Pompey was killed. Julius Caesar was a logical person and most citizens liked him. Finally, he was elected dictator many times.

Review: I recommend this book “Julius Caesar, Dictator for life” because it tells about grand Julius Caesar’s life. Julius Caesar’s life is important because he affected a lot to Roman Empire. He helped Roman Empire to be stronger and bigger. He achieved many of titles for example, he was called ‘Liberators’ because he made a great affect to democracy.

Alliance among three people Junku Kang

There are three men standing in an assembly room, shaking each other’s hands. One seems to be rich man with golden jewels, and two others were armed with decorated armor. They are Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus.

“I hope our alliance keep goes until we all die” Julius Caesar speaks to Pompey and Crassus.

“We would not break our alliance until we die” Crassus added.

“Our alliance made for The Great Roman Empire. We need to do something that helps to the Great Roman Empire,” Pompey announced.

Three men’s political alliance was created by Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus, to rule Roman Empire. They formalized the alliance with a marriage between Pompey and Caesar’s daughter, Julia. However, their alliance did not last that long. Crassus, the rich man, who took part in the political alliance, died in the Carrhae war. Also, Caesar’s daughter Julia who was married to Pompey died in child birth. It was the moment that broke of the alliance. By this time, Julius Caesar was spreading his strength by conquering Gaul with great tactics. He became the first Roman general to cross the Rhine and conducted the first invasion of Britain. These achievements granted him unmatched military power and put significant pressure to Pompey.

While Caesar was campaigning and fighting wars, Pompey was becoming the most powerful man in Rome. He commanded several legions stationed in Spain and loved to boast his army. However, in some way, he had grown jealous of

Caesar’s fame and wealth. Afraid of Caesar in a letter, Pompey commanded Caesar to give up his legions because his term as governor had finished. Caesar responded, “I will only give up my legions when you give up yours.”

However, Pompey did not respond this message. Pompey wanted to keep Caesar out and in the end, he had no choices.

“Should we march to Rome? I think we should not attack Rome,” one of Caesar’s believable general Brutus questioned.

“What would I get if I don’t march tomorrow? Nothing. If I returns to Rome without my army, people who hates me in Rome would put me on trial for my abuse of power as consul,” Caesar responded “But you can stay at Gaul. You can’t let us die in Rhine only for your authority,” he argued.

“I will not let you die in the battle. Also, If we stay in Gaul, my succeed of war will be denied and we will give Pompey time to raise his army in Rome and calls his army back from Spain,” he added “Okay, we will always follow your decision,” he finally agreed with Caesar.

Finally, just after dawn, on a warm and sunny day, January 10, 49 B.C., Caesar crossed Rubicon and he cried out, “The die is cast!” – a phrase that today means “There is no turning back.”. Also, Caesar had just broken a sacred Roman law forbidding Generals to enter the home territories of Rome with their armies.

“Caesar is attacking us, sir! Our defence would fell soon,” one of Pompey’s soldier reported Pompey that it is the beginning of the war.

“What?” Pompey shouted and stood up and smashed the table with his fist.

News of Caesar’s march on Rome shocked Pompey who was not prepared to

defend the city.

Pompey’s army in Spain was 600 kilometers away and the army in Rome was not well trained. He escaped to south because he could not match Caesar.

Then, Caesar sent envoys to Pompey requesting a meeting. “What I wanted most of all was the chance to have an interview with Pompey,” he wrote.

However, Caesar’s old ally refused to have a meeting. Instead, he gathered large group of army at the Brundisium and he escaped to Greece.

After Caesar entered the Rome, he wanted to be a dictator. To achieve his ambitions, Caesar and his army went to Spain with confident that he would be victorious against Pompey’s soldiers and he succeeded. However, when Caesar was returning back to Rome, there was another war, called Dyrrachium, against Pompey. Caesar’s tired soldiers could not beat feisty Pompey’s soldiers. The battle was indecisive but is regarded as a victory for Pompey.

Still later in that same year, Caesar and Pompey had a large engagement called the Battle of Pharsalus.

“Ha, ha, I have at least twice as many soldiers as you. Lay down your arms and surrender. If then, I’ll keep you alive,” Pompey announced.

“I will never capitulate! I would die if I surrender to you. The number your army is only a number. You cannot assure it.” Caesar responded.

“I’ll show you how to use your soldiers. Go, and kill them all!” Pompey declared and the war began.

Even Pompey had about three times more of an army than Caesar the victory was for Caesar. Also the battle ended quicker than others and it was decisive battle for Caesar.

In Rome, Caesar was appointed dictator. Also Caesar presided over his own

election to a second consulship and then, after eleven days, resigned this dictatorship. Caesar then chased Pompey to Egypt.

“Sir, I have got news for you,” Brutus reported, “What is it? Is it important?” Caesar responded “Here is a present from Egypt,” Brutus handed n packed box to Caesar. When he unpacked it, he stopped a moment and shivered his arm that holding the box.

There was Pompey’s head inside.

“An officer of Pompey killed him in Egypt,” he continued “Don’t cry, he was our enemy and he stole many lives from people.

“He was a great leader… There would not be any generals like Pompey…”

Caesar said in depressed voice.

Then, In 48 B.C., Caesar appointed as a dictator again. He reached many achievements such as gradual transformation of the Roman Republic

Works Cited "Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest." Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Oct. 2012.

Rinaldo, Denis. Juilus Caesar Dictator for Life. 2010. Wicked History. Wicked History.

Web. <http://www.amazon.com/Julius-Caesar-Dictator-WickedHistory/dp/0531228223>.

Rinaldo, Denise. Julius Caesar: Dictator for Life. New York: Franklin Watts, 2010. Print.

"World Book Online Reference Center | Online Reference Book| Online Encyclopedia."

World Book. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.