Julius Caesar

A detailed Summary of Julius Caesar

For centuries the Roman Empire has always been associated with one name, Julius Caesar. Unmistakably one of history's most influential leaders since the existence of human civilization, and a man who was both feared and idolized. Caesar was brought to life in one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays, Julius Caesar. Although Shakespeare's words kept the history of Caesar alive, it fails to show the side of Caesar some people do not consider. Caesar is depicted as humorless, pompous, and even fearful; all attributes which friends and enemies in his own time would have found perplexingly off base. There is no hint of the personal charm, wit and lure for which he was notorious. Unlike Shakespeare's play Caesar himself was a far more complicated and fascinating character than Shakespeare's portrayal.

Caesar's birth lies on the month of Quinctilis, which in later years became known as July named after Julius himself. He came from a family with a long history of influence on Roman politics. Although before his birth his family had fallen from wealth and notoriety and Caesar was born into an impoverished patrician family. Caesar's past family history might have been a driving influence on

Caesar's life was cut short on March fifteenth or better known as the ides of March. A few senators who were jealous of his sudden raise to power stabbed Caesar. Caesar was a man with high expectations and who was never satisfied with his position in life. Although he initiated a Civil War he loved his country and went to great lengths to improve it.

Caesar escaped a plot on his life and later his relatives pleaded with Sulla to spare his life. Sulla agreed with a stipulation that Caesar leave the daughter of his nemesis, Cinna. With Caesar's refusal Sulla took her dowry instead and Caesar left for Asia not returning until after Sulla's death. Ironically the man who tried to kill Caesar also started his military career. In Caesar' teenage years he had been appointed to the Flamen of Dialis which was the high priest of Jupiter. The position which was like a priest hood and which entitled a life time commitment and a life style that was opposite of Caesar's life. Although after Marius death he was ordered to leave by Sulla. The works that were set in motion way before the birth of Caesar was just a precursor for the events that were to become Caesar's fate. The early events of Caesar turbulent life in to adult hood were probably considerable factors in his overall perception of politics in the late Republic. Most of his ideals that were considerable during his period of rule later were probably conceived during the experiences he underwent.

Caesar attacked many social problems that had haunted Rome since the time of the Gracchi, including what to do with the landless poor. He declared a general amnesty for all who had taken arms against him in the Civil War. He took an exact census of the city and reorganized and reduced the distribution of free grain. He granted citizenship to doctors and teachers, many of who were Greek. The owners of large landed estates were required to hire a third of their farm workers from free men, rather than slaves to avoid the problem of forcing landless workers into the overcrowded towns. He limited the terms of proprietors to one year and of proconsuls to two consecutive years perhaps, from ac

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Approximate Word count = 1446
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History