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Hello Everyone,

For the week of April 9th � April 15th, we are reading chapters 11 and 12 of Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy.

The seventh week's reading assignment is:

WEEK SEVEN - April 9th � April 15th -> 11. ‘The Bravest of the Gaulish Peoples�: The Belgae, 57 BC and 12. Politics and War: The Conference of Luca (233 - 268)

We will open up a thread for each week's reading. Please make sure to post in the particular thread dedicated to those specific chapters and page numbers to avoid spoilers. We will also open up supplemental threads as we did for other spotlighted books.

This book was kicked off February 26th.

We look forward to your participation. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders and other noted on line booksellers do have copies of the book and shipment can be expedited. The book can also be obtained easily at your local library, or on your Kindle.

There is no rush and we are thrilled to have you join us. It is never too late to get started and/or to post.

Vicki Cline will be moderating this selection.

Welcome,

~Vicki

TO ALWAYS SEE ALL WEEKS' THREADS SELECT VIEW ALL

by Adrian Goldsworthy

REMEMBER NO SPOILERS ON THE WEEKLY NON SPOILER THREADS - ON EACH WEEKLY NON SPOILER THREAD - WE ONLY DISCUSS THE PAGES ASSIGNED OR THE PAGES WHICH WERE COVERED IN PREVIOUS WEEKS. IF YOU GO AHEAD OR WANT TO ENGAGE IN MORE EXPANSIVE DISCUSSION - POST THOSE COMMENTS IN ONE OF THE SPOILER THREADS. THESE CHAPTERS HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION SO WHEN IN DOUBT CHECK WITH THE CHAPTER OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY TO RECALL WHETHER YOUR COMMENTS ARE ASSIGNMENT SPECIFIC. EXAMPLES OF SPOILER THREADS ARE THE GLOSSARY, THE BIBLIOGRAPHY, THE INTRODUCTION AND THE BOOK AS A WHOLE THREADS.

Notes:

It is always a tremendous help when you quote specifically from the book itself and reference the chapter and page numbers when responding. The text itself helps folks know what you are referencing and makes things clear.

Citations

If an author or book is mentioned other than the book and author being discussed, citations must be included according to our guidelines. Also, when citing other sources, please provide credit where credit is due and/or the link. There is no need to re-cite the author and the book we are discussing however.

Here is the link to the thread titled Mechanics of the Board which will help you with the citations and how to do them.

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Also, the citation thread: (for Unreasonable Men - look at examples)

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Introduction Thread

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Table of Contents and Syllabus

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Glossary

Remember there is a glossary thread where ancillary information is placed by the moderator. This is also a thread where additional information can be placed by the group members regarding the subject matter being discussed.

Here is the link:

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Bibliography

There is a Bibliography where books cited in the text are posted with proper citations and reviews. We also post the books that the author may have used in his research or in her notes. Please also feel free to add to the Bibliography thread any related books, etc with proper citations or other books either non fiction or historical fiction that relate to the subject matter of the book itself. No self promotion, please.

Here is the link:

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Book as a Whole and Final Thoughts - Spoiler Thread

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Link:

by Adrian Goldsworthy

Everyone, for the week of April 9th � April 15th, we are reading Chapters 11 and 12.

The seventh week's reading assignment is:

WEEK SEVEN - April 9th � April 15th -> 11. ‘The Bravest of the Gaulish Peoples�: The Belgae, 57 BC and 12. Politics and War: The Conference of Luca (233 - 268)

Chapter Overview and Summary:

Chapter 11. ‘The Bravest of the Gaulish Peoples�: The Belgae, 57 BC


Caesar in Gaul

This chapter covers Caesar’s battles with the Belgae.

Chapter 12. Politics and War: The Conference of Luca


First Triumvirate

This chapter describes what was going on in Rome while Caesar was in Gaul, focusing on Clodius, and how the Triumvirate needed to be reconfirmed.

Battle of the Sambre

Discussion Topics for Chapter XI:

1. Caesar seems to have been very good at training his troops and forming a bond with them. Was that just an extension of his political talents or did he learn from his commanding officers when he was a subordinate?

2. Did Caesar really receive reports of a “conspiracy� among the tribes of the Belgae, or was that just a convenient excuse to attack them?

Discussion Topics for Chapter XII:

1. Why couldn’t they figure out a way to deal with disruptions like the gangs of Clodius and Milo? Would a police force be too much like having the army inside the city?

2. Why did roughly 200 senators need to come to Luca in addition to Pompey and Crassus?

I'm personally not into the different battles Caesar fought, but if others have comments on these parts of the book, I'm sure we'd all like to read them.

I feel the same way Vicki.

One aspect of warfare that I have a hard time wrapping my head around is how all the troops and animals were fed. You'd think with one or more legions coming into a new area, it would be hard to find enough supplies for everyone. Even if there were allies in the region, that's still a lot of grain and other foodstuffs. And then many times the legion would spend the winter there, needing even more food.

Long supply lines? Found this

Thanks for that link to the online copy of the book, Michele. I added an entry for it in the Bibliography.

I thought the mention of Caesar's friendship with Catullus' father, and Catullus' distaste for Caesar, very amusing. I recently read Catullus' Bedspread: The Life of Rome's Most Erotic Poet which also covers this.

by Daisy Dunn (no photo)

Caesar had been Pontifex Maximus for about 5 years when he left for Gaul. I wonder who was performing the duties of the Pontifex, and what those duties were. Since there was a "college" of priests, presumably someone took over for him. It's kind of a weird combination, sort of like the Pope serving as Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

Vicki wrote: "Thanks for that link to the online copy of the book, Michele. I added an entry for it in the Bibliography."

one does not have to be into the actual battles that caesar fought but his performance in them - as a hands on leader and strategist and logistical coordinator to me illustrate why he was able to be Caesar.
His actions made the men "his men" and his talent at seeing the dangers and opportunities during th encounters bring home the eventual real basis of his power - in that I think that were he not such a successful soldier he would not have been able to attain a position where he was remembered. (Pompey also enhanced/secured his position by military conquest)
This was easier to keep track of than the political intrigues and I guess one was often safer on the field of battle than in Rome.
But I must say that Clodius comes away to me as the worst of the group. The intrigues must have been palpable at time.

sorry I meant to add to Michele an additional thanks for the link

Thanks for your comments, Vincent. Caesar was definitely an excellent general. It was probably easier than being a politician, where he would have to convince other Senators that his ideas were the best.