Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar Synopsis

Gaius Julius Caesar is one of the most influential men to have ever lived. He is inescapable as a figure of power and dominance and may be experienced directly and indirectly in myriad ways. Every day, people around the world measure their leaders against him, whether consciously or unconsciously. Political and military leaders may be praised or condemned for similarities to him. Even the Pope, as pontifex maximus, holds a position that evokes Caesar's religious role in ancient Rome. Students and others read his accounts of the Gallic War and the Civil War and wonder about the contents of lost speeches and letters and other works. His calendar continues to govern our lives as thoroughly as any idea or institution possibly could. His portraits are somehow recognizable to those who have never studied them formally. His name evokes feelings of awe in people who have little detailed knowledge about why that should be so. His assassination on the Ides (15th) of March 44 BCE is repeated continuously on stages in every corner of the globe.

Julius Caesar: A Reference Guide to His Life and Works contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has cross-referenced entries on Caesar's family and early career; his political and military achievements, including events in Rome and beyond, especially the major campaigns; his dictatorship years; and his assassination. Achievements in literature, oratory, architecture, portraiture, and intellectual discourse are given generous attention, as are prominent ideas and personalities of the age of Caesar.