HSC Ancient History Year 2017 Mark 96.00 Pages 26 Published Jul 14, 2018 Complete Augustan Age notes + Essay Plans By Darcy (97.7 ATAR)
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Your notes author, Darcy. Darcy achieved an ATAR of 97.7 in 2017 while attending St Vincent's College Currently studying Bachelor of Arts and Laws at The University of New South Wales Achievements: 2017 HSC All-Round Achiever Band 6 in Ancient History Band 6 in English Extension 1 Band 6 in History Extension Band 6 in Legal Studies Band 6 in Modern History Band 6 in Studies of Religion II Received a mark of 100% in the Modern History CSSA Trial 2017 Darcy says: I have a passion for the humanities, especially history, so it was no surprise that my favourite subjects at school were Modern, Ancient and Extension History. In my spare time I like playing netball, binge-watching Netflix, and relaxing with my friends. Currently I am enrolled in an Arts/Law degree at UNSW to begin in 2018; majoring in history, and minoring in International Relations.
ROME: THE AUGUSTAN AGE 44BC-AD 14 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRINCIPATE Impact of the death of Caesar, early career of Octavian, Second Triumvirate and Civil War - Gaius Octavius was born in 63BC, the great-nephew of Julius Caesar on his mother s (Atia) side. According to AHM Jones, Caesar was impressed with his funeral oration for Caesar s sister Julia, Octavian s grandmother, that he later adopted him in 45BC, unbeknownst to Octavius, making him his heir. Jones writes that Octavian thought highly of Caesar, his great uncle become something of a hero to him. - Caesar was assassinated by twenty-seven senators in the ides of march, 44BC, due to his increasing tyrannical nature. Octavian was in Apollonia, where he had been sent to receive military training. Once Caesar was dead, Octavius became known as Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. - In 44BC, Rome was in a state of turmoil, as the Republicans led by Brutus and Cassius had thrown Rome into chaos after their assassination of Caesar. Atia did not want Octavius to return to Rome because they believed that as he was related to Caesar, he would be in danger. Yet, Octavian returned anyway reflective of his early arrogance. Once he discovered that he was Caesar s adopted son and heir, he accepted the will and name against his parent s wishes (Arrogance), as according to Vell. Pat. II.60, He preferred to trust the judgement concerning himself of a great uncle who was Caesar rather than that of a step father, saying that he had no right to think himself unworthy of the name of which Caesar had thought him worthy. - Jones writes that Marc Antony had agreed to an amnesty with Caesar s murders in order to keep peace, and that Antony was upset at not being Caesars heir in his will. Thus, Octavian received a hostile reception from Antony and his supports upon returning to Rome. - Jones does write that when Octavian returned he did have some support, The towns he passed did not all welcome him, but everywhere he was enthusiastically greeted by his adoptive father s veterans. Eck writes that this enthusiasm is due to a stipulation in Caesars will that money would go to the veterans from his military campaigns, as it was to this group of Roman citizens that he owed his political prominence. Additionally, Eck writes that, with the money he had appropriated Octavius succeeded in winning over some of Caesar s veterans in Campania on his march to Rome. - However, he faced opposition from Cicero, a Republican (who hated Antony, attacking him in his philippics ), and writes of Octavian, I say he cannot be a good citizen; there are so many people about him who threaten our friends with death. They say the situation is intolerable. What do you think, when the boy comes to Rome, where our liberators cannot be safe? - After Caesars death, Antony tried to consolidate his position of power by gaining the support of Lepidus and his troops, gaining control of Caesars money and papers, and meeting with the senate and making an amnesty with the assassins. Republicans Brutus and Cassius left for the east (Syria and Macedonia) to raise troops and naval forces. Cicero returned to Rome to lead the senate against Antony; gave a series of Philippics attacking Antony as a would-be tyrant, same as Caesar. Caesarians Antony deprived Decimus Brutus of his Gallic province, but Brutus refused to leave Cisapline Gaul. Antony laid siege to Brutus at Mutina. Octavian, rebuffed by Anotny, appealed to Caesar s veterans in Campania and seduced two of Antony s legions.
Octavian in Rome: - Even though Octavius was 18 he was impressive. - He carried out Caesar s will by auctioning both Caesar s property and his own to pay to the Plebian families of Rome the legacy Caesar had promised (75 Denarii), thus winning vast popularity on himself and throwing odium on Antonius (Jones). - He also put on a games to the Venus Genetrix to honour Caesar at his own expense. At the games an incident occurred which Octavian recorded in his Res Gestae, a comet was seen for seven days, which he writes, The common people believed that the comet signified the soul of Caesar being received into the divinities of the immortal Gods linking Caesar to the Gods. - Though Cicero did not like Octavian, he decided to use him (due to his youth and inexperience) to further the Republican cause and defeat Antony. He persuaded the senate to give Octavian Imperium, excusing him of all offices up to and including the Praetorship. Thus, Octavian did not have to work his way up the Cursus Honorum, a position usually not reached until late 30 s. - Imperium = supreme power held by consul praetor and pro-consuls, enabling them to lead an army. - Suetonius explains that after Caesar s death Rome was in a state of civil war which lasted approx. 20 Years. During this time, Octavian was involved in five confrontations: 1. MUTINA (43BC) defeated Antony with the help of the senate. Here the senate and Cicero made a serious mistake. Thinking they were free of the threat of Antony (he had fled to Transalpine Gaul), they attempted to discard Octavian. Both consuls were killed here, leaving Octavian in command of their armies. Octavian marched into Rome with his army, demanding the consulship and though Cicero opposed it, he was elected co-consul. He was 19. 2. PHILLIPI combined again with Antony to defeat Brutus and Cassius 3. PERUSIA suppressed a revolt and defeated Lucius Antonius 4. SICILY defeated Sextus Pompeius with the help of Agrippa 5. ACTIUM defeated Cleopatra and Antony Civil War Period: BATTLE OF PHILIPPI 42 BC Cause Participants Result Significance Brutus and Cassius had gained control of the eastern provinces, met Antony and Octavian at Philippi, Macedonia. Octavian wanted revenge for Caesar s death, Cassius and Brutus wanted to revive the republic. Antony Octavius (ill for most of the battle) Lepidus (20 Legions) Brutus Cassius (19 Legions) Octavius experienced numerous problems in Italy: Antony took control of the eastern provinces which were bountiful in resources (e.g. Gaul) Octavius got Italy (had a lot of problems), and returned with a minority of the legions, most of whom were about to retire. He wished to settle them in colonies and eventually win their support. He wanted to establish himself as the soldiers friend (Jones). After two major confrontations, Brutus and Cassius were defeated. Credit goes to Antony, and he is given a triumph. Jones explains that the Battle marked the effective end of the Republican party, for very many of its leaders took part, and most died fighting or, like Brutus and Cassius themselves, committed suicide. - His plan to resettle the Veterans posed a problem. There was no money to buy land, and the proscribed estates had already been sold and the money spent. The only way to obtain land was confiscation. This caused a massive outcry in country areas. - Sextus Pompeius was causing problems to Italian trade through piracy.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) BATTLE OF PERUSIA 41-40 BC Cause Confrontation Results Octavius, in order to get the support of the veterans, incurred the hatred of farmers whom he ejected from their holding. (Scullard). A protest against Rome was supported by the consul (Antonius and Fulvia) who managed to raise 8 legions to challenge Octavian. The battle took place at Perusia where Octavian, aided by the veterans and his friends Agrippa and Salvidienus, starved the city into surrendering. Octavius was victorious and numerous people lost their lives. Lucius Antonius was spared and made governor of Spain. Sources are in disagreement to how much Antony knew about this. Antony and Octavian reconcile and a marriage alliance was made. Antony marries Octavia. BATTLE OF SICILY 39-33 BC Cause Results Significance for the 2 nd Triumvirate Sextus Pompeius continued to undermine the corn and grain supply, casuing problems for Italy. Additionally, one of Pompeius freedmen tried to hand over Sicily and Sardinia to Octavian. Sextus defeated by Octavian and Agrippa, fleeing to the east where he was killed by one of Antony s men. Some of Pompeius troops surrendered to Lepidus, and feeling greatly empowered, Eck writes that he demanded control over the whole island. Octavian now had command of 40 Legions. He disbanded 20,000 veterans, settled them in Sicily, and returned to Rome. Octavian spared Lepidus life, allowing him to remain Pontifex Maximus (until his death when Octavian assumed it), but deprived him of his triumviral powers (end of the 2 nd triumvirate). Eck writes, By leaving Lepidus as chief priest Octavian was making another display of his respect for Roman tradition; priests had always been appointed for life, and this custom had to be honoured even in the case of one s worst enemy. ECK: - On his return to Rome from Sicily Octavian was honoured with a so-called small triumph as a victorious commander, an ovation. - For his own future safety, it was important to Octavian that he be awarded the immunity of a tribune, sacrosanctitas. - By declaring them sacrosanct, the Senate and the people promised to grant special protection to Octavian and both women (Livia and Octavia). Anyone who violated their immunity would be deemed to have committed a crime against the Roman people itself. - It was the beginning of a process in which the ruling family would come to stand for and finally replace the Roman people altogether. After the Sicilian campaign, Shotter refers to the remaining Triumvirs in the following terms: OCTAVIAN = PRO-ROME Octavian, the leader of the Caesarian faction, was now the champion of Republicans and the defender of patriotism, nationalism, and traditional respectability. ANTONY = PRO-FOREIGN, ANTI ROME Antony had succumbed to Orientalism He had betrayed Octavia for his Egyptian mistress Cleopatra. Now consorting with the barbarians of the east. With reference to the war with Antony, Shotter writes that the final conflict between the two is not a civil war, but a national crusade to defend Rome s integrity against Oriental Barbarism and corruption. Italy swore to defend its champion in the forthcoming crusade; Italy United was the battle cry in the campaign against Antony and Cleopatra. *Echoes the words of the propagandists.