A famous Roman leader who took great power — and lost his life for it.
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These are the new words for Julius Caesar. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.
1 = B (an army) · 2 = D (a general) · 3 = G (Rome) · 4 = F (a war)
5 = A (the Senate) · 6 = C (a dictator) · 7 = E (to rule) · 8 = H (to kill)
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
Julius Caesar was born in Rome about 100 years before the birth of Christ. At that time, Rome did not have a king. Instead, important men shared the power, and they changed leaders often. They did not want one man to have all the power. That was very important to them.
Caesar was clever and he spoke very well. People liked to listen to him. He wanted to be powerful, so he spent a lot of money to make friends and win votes. He also made a deal with two strong men in Rome. Together, the three of them controlled the city.
Then Caesar became a general. He took an army to Gaul — the land we now call France — and he fought there for many years. He won, and he became rich and famous. His soldiers loved him. But the important men back in Rome were afraid of him now. They said, "Come back to Rome, but leave your army behind."
1. Did Rome have a king when Caesar was young? What did the important men want?
2. How did Caesar become rich and famous?
1. No, Rome had no king. The important men shared the power. They did not want one man to have all the power.
2. He became a general, took an army to Gaul (France), and won many battles. He became rich and famous, and his soldiers loved him.
There was a law in Rome. A general could not bring his army into Italy. A small river called the Rubicon showed where Italy began. If Caesar crossed it with his soldiers, that was a crime against Rome.
Caesar had to choose. If he came back with no army, his enemies could hurt him. If he came back with his army, there would be a war. He waited by the river. Then, one day in the year 49 before Christ, he made his choice. He crossed the river with his soldiers. People still say "to cross the Rubicon" today. It means to do something you cannot change or take back.
After that, there was a war between Caesar and the other leaders of Rome. Caesar won. He was a very good soldier, and his army was strong. Finally, he had no more rivals. The Senate gave him the highest power. He became "dictator" — the one leader of Rome. Later they said he could keep this power for all his life. No Roman had ever done this before.
1. What was the law about the river Rubicon?
2. What happened after Caesar crossed the river? What did he become?
1. A general could not bring his army into Italy. The Rubicon showed where Italy began. To cross it with soldiers was a crime.
2. There was a war, and Caesar won it. He became "dictator" — the one leader of Rome — for all his life.
Caesar used his power to change many things in Rome. He made new laws, he gave land to his soldiers, and he made a new calendar. One month, July, still has his name today. Many normal people loved him. But some important men in the Senate did not. They were afraid. They thought Caesar wanted to be a king, and they did not want a king.
So a group of these men made a secret plan. One of them was Brutus. Caesar trusted Brutus like a son. People say someone warned Caesar to be careful on the 15th of March. But Caesar did not listen, and he went to the Senate on that day.
There, the group of men attacked Caesar and killed him. It was the 15th of March, 44 years before Christ. But the plan did not save Rome. After Caesar's death, there were more wars. In the end, Caesar's young relative, Augustus, became the first emperor of Rome. Rome now had one ruler again, and the old way was gone. The name "Caesar" became a word for "ruler" for two thousand years.
1. Why were some men in the Senate afraid of Caesar?
2. What happened after Caesar died? Did the plan save Rome?
1. They thought Caesar wanted to be a king, and they did not want one man to be king of Rome.
2. No. There were more wars. In the end, Caesar's relative Augustus became the first emperor, so Rome had one ruler again.
This is a true story from the past, so we use the past simple. We also use small time words to put the events in order: first, then, next, after that, finally.
Write the past simple of the verb in brackets.
1. Caesar (want) more power.
2. He (go) to Gaul with his army.
3. He (win) the war.
4. He (become) the leader of Rome.
1. wanted (regular: want + ed)
2. went (irregular: go → went)
3. won (irregular: win → won)
4. became (irregular: become → became)
Choose the best time word: First, Then, After that, or Finally.
1. , Caesar was a young man in Rome. (the beginning)
2. he crossed the river with his army. (the next event)
3. , he became the one leader of Rome. (the last event)
1. First (the story begins here)
2. Then / After that (the next event)
3. Finally (the last event)
Fill each gap with the past simple of the verb, or a time word. Read it aloud when you finish.
First, Caesar (fight) in Gaul. Then he (cross) the river Rubicon. After that, there (be) a war. , he became the leader of Rome.
fought (irregular) · crossed (regular) · was (irregular) · Finally (time word)
Use the past simple for finished actions, and time words to show the order.
There is a real podcast about Julius Caesar. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast network. About 50 minutes. Open Spotify and search "Short History Of Julius Caesar" to find the episode.
Open the show on Spotify →Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of Julius Caesar in your own words. Use these steps to help you: a clever young man in Rome → a general who won in Gaul → crossing the river Rubicon → a war → the leader of Rome → the 15th of March.
Use the past simple (was, went, won, became) and time words (first, then, after that, finally), and some of the key words (army, general, war, Senate, dictator, rule).
Caesar became the only leader of Rome, with all the power. Is it good or bad when one person has all the power? Why? Think of one leader you know, from history or today.
Tell a short story from your own life or a story you know. Use the past simple and time words (first, then, after that, finally).
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: