Characteristics and Reign of Julius Caesar
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Julius Caesar was born around 100 BC and named after his father, a low-ranking Roman politician. Julius' mother Aurelia was the daughter of a former Roman consul, so although the family was not wealthy, they were well-connected to Rome's aristocracy, the patrician class. All his life, Caesar was being groomed to take over his father's position, and often accompanied his father to the forum. He received a strict upbringing, and a strong sense of pride in Rome was instilled in him from the beginning of his life. He learned battle skills as well. His father died when Caesar was just 15.
The Punic Wars and Rome's increasing wealth and expanding empire brought about a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Two brothers, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, attempted to help Rome's poor. As tribunes they proposed reforms, including limiting the sizes of large estates and giving land to the poor. This brought them fierce opposition in the senate, who felt threatened by their ideas...