Western Civilization I / Unit 6 WC1 0522 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Dictator for Life, the Ides of March, and Octavian
Captions available
The idea
Caesar became dictator for life with a packed Senate, veteran colonies, a new calendar and a planned Persian war. Senators who, the anchor says, sincerely meant to save the Republic killed him in March forty-four. His heir was his grand-nephew Octavian.
In practice
Cleopatra VII and Caesarion in the background.
Where people slip
The assassins' sincerity is attributed. Their act restored nothing.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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