caesar
In history it is rare to find truly great leadership, but every once in a while someone comes along so charismatic that even his enemies cannot but admire him. Rome in the first century B.C. was replete with statesmen, generals and leaders who to this day are remembered as being among the greatest and most fascinating that ever lived. But there is no doubt as to the most memorable of these. Gaius Julius Caesar lived from 100 to 44 B.C. and though his life began and ended with Rome beset by internal strife and the threat of civil war, he did more than anyone to consolidate the power of Rome and facilitate the rise of the Roman empire. It is true that the political and social climate of Rome had been changing rapidly for two hundred years before Caesar, but it is a moot point whether Rome would have proceeded towards monarchy without Caesar. The important thing is that he did live and reshape the Roman world; the life of Caesar was the catalyst for four centuries of the most extensive and influential empire in human history. Aside from his legendary military prowess, shrewd political mind, oratorical and literary brilliance, reputation for even handedness and demagogic appeal, part of what fascinates us even today about Caes
He could pardon some of his most bitter political enemies and grant degrees of autonomy to conquered people, but at the same time he could crucify a band of pirates who once captured him, divorce his wife on questionable grounds, and brazenly flaunt his power as dictator before jealous and fearful senators. So vibrant and powerful was he that for the few years of his dictatorship, he was the government itself, with the consent of the people. It is difficult to call a man a transformational leader when his life began and ended with his country in chaos, but for this man there can be no doubt that his life forever transformed the history of his people. An empire must be ruled by an emperor, not a senate. Caesar would have scoffed at such idle speculation and continued making history. by a group of short sighted senators left a feeling of inconclusiveness to the story of Caesar. Though he was temperate with regards to drink, he was among the most licentious of all Romans in his love affairs. To less gifted men however, his aloofness, even if mixed with kindness, was thought to be patronizing. Ultimately, though, he was too great of a leader.
Common topics in this essay:
Julius Caesar,
Crassus Caesar,
Mark Antony,
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Penguin Books,
University Press,
44 bc,
Bibliography CITED,
roman world,
York Penguin,
york penguin books,
penguin books,
york penguin,
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