SH+P4+2016+Battle+of+Pharsalus


 * Aim- All of us **

How does the author achieve their purpose?



Julius Caesar’s main purpose of the battle of Pharsalus, was to gain control of Spain and North Africa. He used many strategies with his troops to overthrow his opponents, controlled by Pompey. Some of Julius Caesar’s strategies ranged from complex plans such as, “Because his smaller army was stretched to avoid being outflanked by Pompey’s lines… The Pompeian cavalry soon found themselves flanked and under ferocious attack by 3,000 of Caesar’s veteran infantry” (Jordan). Most of his strategies involved some deaths to both sides. Although the majority of the deaths were on Pompey’s side. Pompeys loss was due to the army's arrogance and disagreement due to the lack of cooperation and team work. This resulted in the accomplishment for Caesar that he was reaching for. He gained control of the Mediterranean areas as he wanted. The victory was thanks to his witty battle plans and attacks. Including the troops fighting and cooperation skills, which incorporated to Caesars victory; hence achieving his purpose.

Jordan, Jonathan W. "Ceasar’s Civil War: Battle of Pharsalus." //History Net//. World History Group. 6 Dec 2006. Web. 5 Jan 2016.

Lendering, Jona. “Pharsalus (48 BCE)” // livius.org //. 30 November 2015. Web. 6 January 2016.

**Cultural Implications- Sofia Jacobson**

How do cultural events influence the relationship between the author and audience? The contracting cultural events creates a differing relationship between Caesar and the people in the 21st century. During the Roman era, killing was considered a normal occurrence. Their bloody era is shown through various activities, “Romans watched wild beasts tear each other apart, or gladiators fighting exotic beasts from far away countries, or gladiators fighting each other to the death” (Cavazzi). The world Caesar grew up in, was a world where emperors could write a letter stating a person to “kill themselves” or they would hire people to kill them instead. In order to be respected and to stand glorious, a person had to kill and prove their worth and power. While Romans symbolized killing as strength, compared to the 21st century, killing is now considered a public offense. If anyone were to start a gladiator fight and battle to the death, those people would be considered to be insane. This is shown as people argue the level of sanity in which murders fit in during the 21st century, “Their brains don’t work like the rest of ours do. To deliberately kill someone requires crossing a profound boundary. Most of us couldn’t do it. We couldn’t even think about it. But they can. They do. Why? Because they’re mentally ill”(Bennett). These differences in culture influence Caesar's relationship with others to be incomprehensible. Although, Caesar could possibly say the same statement as well. Cultures and morals are passed down, and change from era to era. These cultures and morals influence people's opinions and the ways people think. For what others may think of killing as inhuman, can also stand as powerful and represent strength. Furthermore inferring the relationship between Caesar and humans in the 21st century to be incompatible.

Bennett, Mark. “Many Murderers Are No More Mentally Ill than You” //Bennettandbennett//, 6 December 2010. Web. 6 January 2016.

Cavazzi, Franco. “The Evils of Rome” //Roman-empire net//. Web. 6 January 2016.


 * Khyra- Audience **

What assumptions does the author have about his audience? Caesar had many assumptions when it came to his troops and the Battle of Pharsalus. Before the battle took place, he was in the mindset that the troops would go along with his battle plan and carry it out, so in turn Julius Caesar could win the land at stake. Caesar had many battle plans, one including foreseeing, “the defeat of his right wing and had stationed behind it about 2,000 of his best legionnaires” (Britannica). Without the straight-forward knowledge of whether or not the troops wanted to participate, he went ahead and planned for them to fight. If the troops didn’t want to follow Caesar they wouldn’t have risked their lives to win for Julius. Julius’ assumptions were correct in the sense that his troops would follow his commands and do what he needed as a leader. Out of his approximately 22,000 men, 120 were volunteers. The brave fighting troops came together to defeat the weaker, but larger side, belonging to Pompey. In the end Caesar had made true assumptions about his brave, faithful troops.

Hickman, Kennedy. “Caesar's Civil War: Battle of Pharsalus” //About education//. 17 May 2015. Web. 6 January 2016.

Lendering, Jona. “Pharsalus (48 BCE)” //livius.org//. 30 November 2015. Web. 6 January 2016.


 * Historical- Tristan **

What history had happened to make the battle important



The Battle of Pharsalus is well known historically because of the defying odds Caesar faced in the battle and the final result. The battle proved to be very influential in the future. Author Jonathan Jordan recounts, “Rome’s most famous general–Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, or Pompey the Great–apprehensively prepared his troops to face the army of Rome’s most successful general, Gaius Julius Caesar” (Jordan). The battle dates back to 48 BC at a time where the soon to be Roman Empire will be formed and will thrive because of Caesar's victory over Pompey. This civil war was quite the matchup, “Rome’s most famous general” versus “Rome’s most successful general” anyone could tell before the battle had begun that it was going to make history. Two influential Roman families and two of Rome’s best generals face off. With the battle at full throttle it was clear that Caesar's expertise out weighted the fact that Pompey had double the number of troops Caesar had. After Caesar tricked and flanked Pompey’s Cavalry the fight was a clear defeat for Pompey. After Caesar won, he gained control of Rome and he allowed Rome to reach its golden age. This battle was one of the deciding factors of Rome’s fate.

Jordan, Jonathan W. "Ceasar’s Civil War: Battle of Pharsalus." //History Net//. World History Group. 6 Dec 2006. Web. 5 Jan 2016.

Lendering, Jona. “Pharsalus (48 BCE)” //livius.org//. 30 November 2015. Web. 6 January 2016.