Julius Caesar
By Alicia, Natasha, and Teagan (7.4)
Fact File
Born: July 12, 100 BC, Rome,Italy
Assassinated: March 15, 44 BC, Theatre of Pompey
Children: Augustus Caesarion, Julia Caesaris
Movies: Caesar the Conqueror
Parents: Aurelia Cotta , Gaius Julius Caesar
BY: Alicia
How did Julius Caesar achieve power?
At the time of Julius Caesars early life the Roman republic was the great power in the Mediterranean, but infighting and corruption within the governing elite threatened its supremacy. Resentment over misgovernment of the republic and the Greco-Roman world had led to revolution and civil war. Caesar’s family, despite its noble heritage, sided with the revolutionaries against the nobility. Caesar’s political ambitions developed under these circumstances. From the start he probably privately aimed at winning office, not just for personal glory but also to achieve the power to save Rome from decay.
As a young man Caesar traveled to the Mediterranean island of Rhodes to study oratory. On the way there he was captured by pirates who demanded a load of gold to let him live. While messengers were sent for the money, Caesar vowed to hang his captors someday. After his release he assembled a naval force, captured the pirates, and put them to death. The episode illustrates the influence that Caesar wielded even as a private citizen holding no public office.
Caesar began to climb the Roman political ladder with his election to the position of quaestor in 69 or 68. Eventually, in 59, he was elected one of Rome’s two consuls, who jointly served as heads of state and held near-absolute authority.
Finally, Julius Caesar decided Rome needed a Ruler, and Appointed himself as 'Emperor of Rome.'
BY: Teagan
Julius Caesar statue
Re-enactment of What Julius caesar would have looked like
Julius Caesar Head (Plaster version)
How did Julius Caesar keep his power?
By Natasha
Julius Caesar's family
By Alicia
Bibliography
- "Julius Caesar." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2015. Web. 9 Jun. 2015. <http://school.eb.com.au/levels/middle/article/273442>.
- "Big Ideas: Geography and History". Saldais,M.2013, South Australia.
- "Julius Caesar, Rise to power." Info please. 2000-2015 (online). 10 June 2015. <http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/people/caesar-julius-rise-to-power.html>
- "Julius Caesar." (online). 10 June 2015. <http://www.roman-empire.net/republic/caesar.html>
- "Julius Caesar Biography". Encyclopaedia of world biography. 2015 (online). 10 June 2015. <http://www.notablebiographies.com/Br-Ca/Caesar-Julius.html>