Book 6 (53 B.C) One Page Outline
[Background: Books 1-5:
Caesar’s campaigns in Gaul
against the Helvetii, Ariovistus, and the Belgae are recounted in DBG Books 1-2 (58-57 B.C.) . Book
3 (57-56 B.C.) recounts the naval campaign against the Veneti off the northwest
coast of Gaul and other lesser operations by Caesar and his subordinates. Book
4 (55 BC) , after describing Caesar’s crossing of the Rhine and operations
in Germany, details Caesar’s first expedition to Britain, which culminates in
the defeat of the rebellious Britons.
Book 5 (54 BC) may be divided
into 2 parts. The first part
summarizes Caesar’s second expedition to Britain; the second, his suppression
of the Belgic tribes of Gaul.]
Book 6 picks up in the following
year. Further revolt in Gaul
requires that Caesar mount military operations against the Nervii and other
tribes (Chapters 1-8). Caesar then once again crosses the Rhine to confront the
Suebi (9-10). Caesar then pauses to describe the
Gauls: their class structure,
Druidical rites and customs (11-20),
and the Germans: their religion,
customs, and warfare (21-28). Caesar’s return to Gaul and the
operations against Ambiorix conclude Book 6 (29-44)
The
required readings for Book 6 in Latin are 13-20.
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Book
6
Chapter:
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Summary
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13
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In
Gaul there are 2 social classes of note, apart from the commoners (plebs,
plebis, f.), who are essentially slaves in thrall to the
nobility. The 2 important
classes are the Druids and the Knights (eques, equitus, m). The Druids are concerned with divine
worship and settlement of disputes.
At the death of the chief Druid there may be a struggle for
succession. The Druids meet
annually within the borders of the Carnute tribe to render decision and
judgement.
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14
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The
Druids do not fight or pay war-taxes.
Many young men seek to enter their ranks. Druidical training consists of the memorization of many
verses which are not committed to writinh. The doctrine of the Druids is that the soul does not die
with the body, but enters another body.
Druidical lore extends also to astronomy, including speculations on
the size of the universe, and on the strength and powers of the gods.
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15
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The
other class of note, the knights, are all engaged in warfare, which is fairly
continuous, consisting of both aggressive and defensive campaigns. The stronger knights are of course
more influential and boast a greater number of retainers, or liegemen.
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16
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The
Gauls are obsessed with ritual.
Human sacrifice is practiced, and justified by their religious
beliefs. The “wicker man” is
described. Often criminals are
chosen for sacrifice, but innocents may also be selected.
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17
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The
Gauls worship Mercury above all, followed by Apollo, Mars, Jupiter and
Minerva. Apollo is thought to
ward off disease, Minerva supplies wisdom, Jupiter rules heaven, and Mars is
the god of war. Mars is honored
with sacrifices after victory in war, and much valuable booty is included in
the sacrifice. Those who attempt
to make off with such booty instead of offering it to the god are severely punished
with torture.
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18
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The
Gauls claim descent from Dis, god of the underworld. Thus they reckon the passage of time
by nights, not days. Gaulish
fathers do not allow their sons to approach until they reach military age.
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19
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Men
have the power of life and death over their wives as well as children. When the head of household dies, the
wives are cross-examined to determine if there are suspicious
circumstances. If such exist,
the wives can be punished with torture and death at the stake. Gaulish funerals typically involve
tossing everything dear to the departed into the flames that consume his
corpse; until recently even the slaves and liegemen of the deceased had been
consigned to burning as part of the funeral rite
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20
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More
advanced tribes have prescribed that anything learned by rumor should not be
spread further, but reported to the authorities, who themselves decide what
should be propagated and what suppressed. Political speech is illegal outside a formal assembly
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