1. William Shakespeare PowerPoint

2. William Shakespeare’s Life
Born April 23, 1564
Lived in Stratford-on-Avon
Died on April 23, 1616
Buried at Holy Trinity Church
Was 52 yrs. old when he died

3. Education Attended Grammar school until the age of 15
Read a great deal: Mythology, Ovid, Plutarch
Studied Latin
Used as sources

4. Marriage
Married Anne Hathaway who was several years older than William
Married on Nov. 27, 1582
Had three children: Susanna, Judith and Hamnet (twins)

5. Career Lived most of his life in London
Wrote during the Elizabethan Period
Was an Actor, Playwright and Producer
Is credited with writing at least 36 plays in addition to other writings
Over half of Shakespeare’s plays were published after his death (The Folio)

6. Elizabethan Acting Scene
Funding of the Arts came from wealthy Patrons
Queen Elizabeth: “Lord Chamberlain’s Men”
King James: “The King’s Men”
Shakespeare was part owner

7. Performances Theatres Castles Inns Traveled Fencing Tumbling Dancing
Elocution
Acting
Music

8. The Globe Theatre Was an “Experience”
Held about 3000 people from all different social classes
Was a three story, octagon, open-aired theater
Flew a white flag from the turret to signal a performance was to be held

9. Globe Theatre Layout Yard/Pit Gallery
Groundlings
Gallery
Wealthy
Stage, Trapdoors, “Heavens”, “Hell”

10. Shakespeare’s Writings
Wrote Comedies:
The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer’s Night Dream
Wrote Histories:
Henry the Fifth, Julius Caesar (transitional)

11. Shakespeare’s Writings
Wrote Tragedies:
Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth
Wrote Romances:
The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, King Henry the Eighth

12. Caesar and Rome’s Crisis
Events occur in 44 B.C. during a period of crisis in the Republic of Rome
Plagued by political revolution
Expanding territory, soil erosion and heavy taxation led to a class of landless men
Attempted political and social reform (led to violance)

13. Rome is Burning
The “common” people or “Plebeians” had very little power in the government
Rome was ruled by the wealthy “Patricians”
The Senate was controlled by the personal rivalries of the wealthy

14. Time For A Change
During times of crisis it was possible to appoint a dictator
An “ambitious” man could become an absolute ruler
Some Roman dictators championed the “People’s Party”; others belonged to the “Senatorial Party”

15. Enter Caesar Caesar was a “Patrician” but sided with the common people
Had a highly decorated and successful military background
Taunted the Senators with his actions
Became a “threat” to the Senators

16. Hurrah For Caesar
Won the support of the Plebeians by spending money on:
Public works
Entertainment
Lowering the crushing taxes placed on farmers and tradesmen

17. A New Government
In 60 B.C. Caesar formed with Crassus and Pompey a triumvirate ( three-man rule) to govern Rome and its provinces
Two years later Caesar was made governor of Gaul (Southern France and Northern Italy)
Ended up conquering all of Gaul; money flowed to Rome

18. Caesar Shares The Wealth
Bonuses paid to his soldiers
Loyalty
Builds a very strong army
Military power
Common people benefited by lessoning some of the tax burdens
Gains support and loyalty

19. Ambition, Power, Corruption
Triumvirate worked smoothly for a short time but trouble was brewing
Caesar became even more powerful
Crassus was killed
Pompey, worried that he would be next, moved closer to the Senatorial party

20. Caesar “A Roman Rebel”
Senators, alarmed by Caesar’s power, order Caesar to disband his army
Will be considered an “enemy of the state”
Caesar comes home
marches his army to the gates of Rome and gathers the reins of power

21. Caesar: Ruler of Rome
During the next four years Caesar made himself absolute ruler of the Roman world
Chases down Pompey in Egypt
Pompey killed in Egypt 48 B.C.
Caesar also killed Pompey’s two sons (Gnaeus and Sextus)

22. The Aftermath In 48 B.C. Caesar named dictator
In 46 B.C. Caesar was made dictator for ten years
In 45 B.C. Caesar’s term was extended to life
Caesar was the undisputed master of the Roman world

23. Veni, Vidi, Vici Caesar Reigns Supreme
44 B.C.
Shakespeare begins his play at this point
(Feast of Lupercalia)