Commentaries on the Gallic War
'Commentaries on the Gallic War' Summary
The "Gaul" that Caesar refers to is ambiguous, as the term had various connotations in Roman writing and discourse during Caesar's time. Generally, Gaul included all of the regions primarily inhabited by Celts, aside from the province of Gallia Narbonensis (modern-day Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon), which had already been conquered in Caesar's time, therefore encompassing the rest of modern France, Belgium, Western Germany, and parts of Switzerland. As the Roman Republic made inroads deeper into Celtic territory and conquered more land, the definition of "Gaul" shifted. Concurrently, "Gaul" was also used in common parlance as a synonym for "uncouth" or "unsophisticated" as Romans saw Celtic peoples as uncivilized compared with themselves.
The work has been a mainstay in Latin instruction because of its simple, direct prose. It begins with the frequently quoted phrase "Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres", meaning "Gaul is a whole divided into three parts". The full work is split into eight sections, Book 1 to Book 8, varying in size from approximately 5,000 to 15,000 words. Book 8 was written by Aulus Hirtius, after Caesar's death.
Although most contemporaries and subsequent historians considered the account truthful, 20th-century historians have questioned the outlandish claims made in the work. Of particular note are Caesar's claims that the Romans fought Gaulic forces of up to 430,000 (an impossible army size for the time), and that the Romans suffered no deaths against this incredibly large force. Historian David Henige regards the entire account as clever propaganda meant to boost Caesar's image, and suggests that it is of minimal historical accuracy.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
Classical LatinPublished In
58–49 BCAuthor
Julius Caesar
Roman Empire
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. In 60 BC, Caesar, Crassus...
More on Julius CaesarDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
State of the Union Addresses by United States Presidents (1934 - 1945) by Franklin D. Roosevelt
The State of the Union address is a speech presented by the President of the United States to a joint session of the United States Congress, typically...
Magna Carta by Anonymous
Magna Carta Libertatum commonly called Magna Carta (also Magna Charta; "Great Charter"), is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of Englan...
The Cossacks: Their History and Country by William Penn Cresson
In this, Cresson delves into the history of the Cossacks, tracing their origins from the medieval era to the present day. He explores their unique way...
Historical Tales, Vol V: German by Charles Morris
Volume V of a series containing anecdotes and stories, some well-known, others less so, of particular countries. This fifth volume covers the history...
The Irish Nuns at Ypres: An Episode of the War by Dame M. Columban
It details the experiences of a group of Irish nuns who volunteered as nurses during World War I and were stationed at the Ypres front in Belgium. The...
Perils in the Transvaal and Zululand by Henry Cadwallader Aams
A young man travels to South Africa to find his Mother and sister. He wants to be a clergyman and a farmer when he arrives there. This story includes...
Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
The novel begins with a "Translator's Preface," a translator note on the "Peculiarity of Joan of Arc's History," and a foreword by Sieur Louis de Cont...
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 05 by Charles F. Horne
Embark on an extraordinary expedition through time with "The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 05," a captivating anthology masterfully curat...
The History of England, from the Accession of James II - (Volume 1, Chapter 03) by Thomas Babington Macaulay
The History of England from the Accession of James the Second (1848) is the full title of the five-volume work by Lord Macaulay (1800–1859) more gener...
Montcalm and Wolfe, Volume 1 by Francis Parkman
Montcalm and Wolfe is the sixth volume in Francis Parkman's seven-volume history, France and England in North America, originally published in 1884. I...
Reviews for Commentaries on the Gallic War
No reviews posted or approved, yet...