Julius Caesar Causes Of War

The Causes of War In the ancient world war was fought over all of the same things that are fought over today, however the lack of tangible evidence of these causes leads to many questions. Many generals and other military leaders had the difficult job of having to justify their military actions with very little proof. These men in power had to make judgment calls in order to be an effective leader and a decisive one. In nations where the people had the power to make the choice to go to war orators had to convince the majority to either vote in favor of battle, or against it. It is because of these difficult tasks that oration became the most important tool for a politician and military leader to have. In Caesar’s case he must defend his decision
In Caesar’s case, his speeches regarding the wars in Gaul are before the Roman senate in a trial where he is defending his life. Military commanders, like Caesar, serve at the command of the Senate. Caesar’s actions in Gaul were without orders or the advisement of the Senate. Caesar must defend each of his actions with legitimacy, or at least appear to. Caesar is known to have been an excellent orator, but he is also known to have been war mongering. In several moments of his speech Caesar appeals to the emotions of the Senate, rather than support himself with valid claims. He does so by justifying refusing to help the Helvetii people, constant victims of attack from their German neighbors, by painting them as a vile and brutish people. He also reminds the senate of the loss of Lucius Cassius to the Helvetii people many years before. This event happened a long time before, and was forgiven with peace between the two peoples. Caesar also describes the plundering of tribes the Helvetii travel through, which they had to do because they were not prepared for the long journey through those countries. The Helvetii had prepared to travel through the Roman Province, but after they refused were forced to travel the treacherous path through the other lands. Caesar then attacks and slaughters the encamped Helvetii soldiers without warning, or honor. The majority of the Helvetii troops killed without any opportunity to defend themselves or escape, they were trapped between a river and Caesar’s army. Caesar’s defenses are paper thin, but manipulated enough through his oratory skills to become convincing and plausible. These speeches are the words of a desperate man who appeals more to moral sensibilities than logical ones. On the other hand Thucydides was a historian, and an Athenian one at that. Caesar was a military man and a politician, his job was to wage war, defend