The Second Civil War (49-45 BC) and its Aftermath (44-30 BC) Flashcards
The Second Civil War
49-45 BC. a war between Pompey and the optimates and Caesar and his followers.
Caesar conquered Italy in 49 BC and occupied Rome. He defeated Pompey’s numerous forces in Spain and took over Massilia. in 48 BC he crossed to Albania and Greece and won the battles at Dyrrhachium, Pharsalus (Thessaly). Pompey was murdered in Egypt by Ptolemy XIV in 47 BC. Caesar followed Pompey there, restored order and helped Cleopatra ascend the throne. he eliminated the kingdom of Pontus right after. in 46 and 45 BC he experienced difficult campaigns against Pompeian and senatorial powers in north Africa and Spain but won.
in 47 BC he was appointed dictator and in 44 BC he was made one for life.
Caesar’s reforms
tightened the control of the governors in the provinces, limited the number of recipients of wheat in Rome, and settled tens of thousands of veterans, proletarians and freedmen in colonies.
Caesar’s assassination
his more and more monarchical habits were the incentive. on the 15th of March, 44 the optimates Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus orchastrated the killing. the old regime was not restored, however. his adherents and troops seized control in Rome.
main leaders after Caesar’s murder
Marcus Antonius, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, Gaius Octavius (later Augustus). Caesar’s adopted son took the name Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus.
conflict between Mark Antony and Octavian
it was brought on by Caesar’s inheritance. Caesarian enemies seized the chance to build up military power outside of Italy. Brutus and Cassius built an army in the eastern provinces.
the senate supported Octavian and legitimized his army so he can go on a campaign against Antony. he was beaten in Mutina and Antony was appointed consul in spite of his young age.
Second Triumvirate
formed by Caesarian leaders. they made sure to gain dictatorial power in Rome, Italy and the provinces. between 42-36 BC they settled scores with the optimates and Pompey junior. in 42 BC at Philippi Brutus and Cassius were decisively defeated. Lepidus took command over Africa and Antony over the eastern half of the empire. Octavian set out to restore order in Italy.
Octavian in Italy after the wars
in 41-40 BC he confiscated land and settled veterans. in 36 BC he liquidated Pompey’s son and sidetracked Lepidus whose troops defected to Octavian. in 33-32 BC Octavian used propaganda to win the support of the Caesarians and almost everyone else in Italy against Antony and Cleopatra.
in 32 BC Italian communities took an oath of allegiance to Octavian. in 31 BC Antony and Cleopatra were defeated at a naval battle off Actium. in 30 BC he conquered Egypt.
he came out as a sole ruler.
the flourishing of cultural life during the civil wars
Roman architecture and visual arts came into bloom. between 80-30 BC literature was characterized by great productivity (Cicero, Caesar, Sallust, Marcus Terentius Varro).
in 55 BC Rome acquired its first stone theatre were musical performances and dramas were performed. Circus Maximus was used for racing, boxing, wrestling, chariot racing.
Gladiatorial combats were very popular
