Notes From Caesar Film

• Why was there chaos after the death of Caesar? There was a power vacuum and the Senate wasn't read to fill it
• What was the ambition of Antony? To take over
• Why was Octavian the perfect figure-head for securing the Republic? He was young and so he was assumed to be easy to manipulate, he was very rich, he was related to Caesar and he had inherited an army
• What were the words of Cicero regarding Octavian? Once the Republic is reformed he becomes dispensable 'praise him, honor him, get rid of him'
• Why was Octavian in the same difficulty as Caesar in 49 BC? He had an army. With it, he stood a chance so if he disbanded it he would die
• Why was the outmanoeuvering of Octavian important? It saved his life
• Why did Octavian unite with Mark Antony? To avenge Caesar and gain a powerful ally
• What happened at the Battle of Philippi? Cassius and Brutus were defeated and subsequently killed themselves, Lepidus was edged out and Octavian took the West while Antony took the East
• Who did Octavian marry in 39 BC and why? Scibonia, because she was well-born. He divorced her because she 'nagged' him
• When was Octavian able to turn the Senate in his favour? Antony married Cleopatra when he was already married to Octavian's sister and then he claimed that Caesar's son by Cleopatra (Caesarion) was Caesar's rightful heir
• What slanders were stated by Octavian against Mark Antony? That he embraced alien and barbaric customs and that he was bewitched and no longer Roman (making him a foreign threat)
• What happened at the Naval Battle of Actium in 31 BC? Agrippa won for Octavian, Mark Antony and Cleopatra killed themselves and Caesarion was killed
• Why was Actium won at a great cost? The Roman sea was stained with blood
• What was Octavian's dilemma? He had now become a tyrant, which is what he was acting to defeat
• How was the wealth of Egypt used? For lavish games and patronage