Download RRP Final Draft of Essay - 2011

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Caitlyn Escobar
Mrs. Downer/ Ms. Bergen
English 10-4/ Latin II-7
10 November 2011
Gaius Julius Caesar
During his life, Gaius Julius Caesar was influential in many different aspects. The events
that took place in his life were important to Rome because he helped with the transition from a
republic to an empire due to his determination and perseverance. Because of Caesar’s desire
for power, he removed Rome from its usual routine and made them realize his viewpoint on
improving Rome’s position. Julius Caesar affected society in the Roman Republic by
contributing to the change in culture from the Republic to the Empire while expanding the
borders and strengthening his power.
Julius Caesar affected the way of culture in Rome, which partly contributed to the
transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. One example of the transition was
the way he treated his men in battle. Some said “he valued his soldiers neither for their
personal character nor for their fortune, but solely for their prowess, and he treated them with
equal strictness and indulgence; for he did not curb them everywhere and at all times, but only
in the presence of the enemy” (Suetonius sec. 65). Caesar’s troops began to respect him as
their general, which developed a friendship between them. They also learned to protect him
because of this certain relationship. Before Caesar, generals were demanding and domineering
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over their troops, but Caesar was an exception to this custom. He did not believe that being
controlling was necessary, therefore he changed the relationship between general and soldier.
This caused the force to respond in a way that made them fight stronger for their general,
unlike the mercenaries of other countries who were paid to fight and were not patriotic.
Caesar helped change the way of culture by equalizing himself with his soldiers and fighting
alongside them in battle.
Caesar also contributed to the change in culture by giving speeches. He once gave a
speech for his aunt, Julia, at her funeral. At that time, it was not common to speak at women’s
funerals. Plutarch himself said “after the death of his aunt, Julia, the wife of Marius, he [Caesar]
made a brilliant public speech in praise of her in the forum, and was bold enough to display in
the funeral procession images of Marius himself” (Fall of the Roman Republic 247). It helped
Romans notice that it was kind to give acknowledgements to a person who moved on. This also
was the beginning of his excellent speeches, which eventually grew to influence others in the
Roman Republic. Caesar wanted power, and to obtain it he slowly worked to become popular
and used his eloquent speaking skills to convince people to see his way and what he wanted.
This affected the Roman people by changing their perspective to Caesar’s because it seemed
like the better plan for the country. Caesar helped changed the culture of the Republic by giving
powerful speeches and therefore changing the rest of Rome to think his way.
Julius Caesar increased Roman territory and strengthened the borders. When Germany
decided to attack Rome, Caesar acted quickly, and decided to attack first. This led to the
expansion into the north. It is described that “Caesar added a nobler still, that of settling those
of the Barbarians who has escaped alive from them, and compelling them to resume the
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territory which they had abandoned and the cities which they had destroyed” (The Parallel
Lives sec. 18). This was a victory and an accomplishment for both the Roman army and
Republic. Since Rome was paranoid of being invaded and controlled by other countries, they
needed a strong army to be able to protect themselves. By doing this, they expanded their
borders and became stronger. Another achievement they made was when they crossed the
Rhine. The event was planned as “they were signally routed, and Caesar pursued them a
distance of four hundred furlongs, as far as the Rhine, and filled all the intervening plain with
dead bodies and spoils” (The Parallel Lives sec. 19). This special expansion helped Rome in
defending the country because the position gave them an advantage. This told other territories
that Rome was becoming a strong country with a secure army. The Roman society and military
improved when Rome expanded because it was becoming stronger which was part of Caesar’s
plans to improve Rome’s position as a country. Caesar increased the Roman expansion by
succeeding in acquiring the Rhine and spreading the borders.
Julius Caesar had a love for power as he became more popular and influential in Rome.
Once he knew that he was significant in the Roman society, Caesar decided to make decisions
with the laws of Rome. According to Suetonius, “Caesar, in his fourth dictatorship…desired ‘to
reduce the civil law to a fixed limit…[and] to collect all the best and necessary ones into very
few books’” (Coleman-Norton 24). Caesar had a desire for power and it began to grow into
something virtually uncontrollable. By scaling the laws to a smaller degree, this affected the
society by informing the people that Rome was focused on the necessary laws. Caesar wanted
to step up the social ladder because he wanted to be influential and powerful to Rome. The
reason for this action was to improve the Roman Republic and, by doing this, he eventually felt
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that Rome would benefit with him being the dictator. Since his actions prove him to be
trustworthy and sufficient to be the dictator, the Roman people blithely agreed. Julius Caesar
contributed to the Roman society by narrowing down the laws of the Republic to the most
important ones.
Julius Caesar also worked to become significant in Rome. He went to drastic measures
to receive what he wanted. An example of those actions was when he married into the high
social class. As a first step, “his family improved its position by marrying into the plebeian
nobility” (Taylor 10). By marrying Cornelia, it gave him a way to enter into the spot of nobility
where he can become known and popular. This helped him achieve the influential roles in
government and therefore became able to manipulate Rome’s decisions. But since the
government focused on more than one person ruling at one time, it was a repetitive obstacle
that blocked Caesar’s power. After successful events that pleased the Roman people he
ultimately reached the title dictator, which gave him more power than a consul. Caesar made
plans to increase his popularity by first marrying into nobility so that he could control Rome for
himself.
Julius Caesar was influential in many ways. He affected Roman society by helping the
transformation of the culture of Rome from the Republic to the Empire. He expanded the
borders while strengthening both Rome and his powers over it. Caesar helped contribute to
the transition of narrowing down the important laws and solidifying them. He also introduced
new customs for the good of the Roman people. Caesar expanded the borders and achieved in
acquiring the Rhine. After deciding his purpose, he finally carried out his goal of developing
power in Rome. With the help of his eloquent speaking skills, soldier-general relationship, and
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having most of Rome on his side, Caesar’s dream of becoming the most powerful had been
fulfilled.
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Works Cited
Coleman-Norton, P.R. “Gaius Julius Caesar and the Roman Law”. The Classical Weekly 50.2
(1956): 24-26. Print.
Plutarch. Fall of the Roman Republic. New York: Penguin Classics, 1958. Print.
Plutarch. The Parallel Lives, The Life of Julius Caesar. Thayer, Bill. n.d. Web. 2 October 2011.
Suetonius. The Lives of the Caesars, The Life of Julius Caesar. Thayer, Bill. n.d. Web. 2 October
Taylor, Lily Ross. “The Rise of Julius Caesar”. Greece and Rome 4.1 (1957): 10-18. Print.