Julius Caesar
Dave Jones
Julius Caesar Throughout the course of history there have been many great men who are known by many in the books that people read today. Julius Caesar is one man still regarded by historians as the greatest of all time. This paper will be focusing on the life of Julius Caesar and his key accomplishments. Julius Caesar was born on July 13 100 BC in Rome, Italy. He was the son of Aurelia and Caius Julius Caesar (Goldsworthy 30). During the time Julius was born, elite families would engrave the message that they were the descendants of the elite and that they would one day be amongst the highest ranks in society. While growing up, Julius Caesar was often surrounded by people who had already established themselves in Roman society. Boys of prominent families, as early as the age of seven would often attend business meetings, greet senators and listen to debates with their father (38). Julius was also the nephew of a highly respected man by the name of Gaius Marius. Marius Gaius gained political power in Rome by the way of being a prominent general in the Roman army and consul of Rome (99). This relationship would serve as a great benefit to Julius later in his life. With this form of upbringing, and his close connection to men with high regard, it can be understood why Julius grew up to be one of the greatest humans known even today. At sixteen, Julius took lead over his family after the death of his father (48). That same year he also married his first wife, Cornelia. Cornelia was the daughter of Cinna, the most powerful consul in Rome from 87bc - 84bc (49). Two years later, when Julius was eighteen, Sulla, a dictator and then leader of a Roman army, ordered Julius to divorce his wife. When Caesar refused, he was forced to leave Rome and hide. He would not return to Rome until the dictator died in 78BC (57). Caesar would get his first real experience in the political world at the age of nineteen while he served under the first
Julius Caesar Throughout the course of history there have been many great men who are known by many in the books that people read today. Julius Caesar is one man still regarded by historians as the greatest of all time. This paper will be focusing on the life of Julius Caesar and his key accomplishments. Julius Caesar was born on July 13 100 BC in Rome, Italy. He was the son of Aurelia and Caius Julius Caesar (Goldsworthy 30). During the time Julius was born, elite families would engrave the message that they were the descendants of the elite and that they would one day be amongst the highest ranks in society. While growing up, Julius Caesar was often surrounded by people who had already established themselves in Roman society. Boys of prominent families, as early as the age of seven would often attend business meetings, greet senators and listen to debates with their father (38). Julius was also the nephew of a highly respected man by the name of Gaius Marius. Marius Gaius gained political power in Rome by the way of being a prominent general in the Roman army and consul of Rome (99). This relationship would serve as a great benefit to Julius later in his life. With this form of upbringing, and his close connection to men with high regard, it can be understood why Julius grew up to be one of the greatest humans known even today. At sixteen, Julius took lead over his family after the death of his father (48). That same year he also married his first wife, Cornelia. Cornelia was the daughter of Cinna, the most powerful consul in Rome from 87bc - 84bc (49). Two years later, when Julius was eighteen, Sulla, a dictator and then leader of a Roman army, ordered Julius to divorce his wife. When Caesar refused, he was forced to leave Rome and hide. He would not return to Rome until the dictator died in 78BC (57). Caesar would get his first real experience in the political world at the age of nineteen while he served under the first
Cited: Goldsworthy, Adrian Keith. Caesar: Life of a Colossus. New York: Yale UP, 2006. Lendering, Jona. "Gaius Julius Caesar." Livius.org. 2008. 26 Oct. 2008 http://www.livius.org/caa-can/caesar/caesar02.html. Plutarch: Life of Caesar (ca. A.D. 100)." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 23 Nov. 2008 .