Question

What were the factors that contributed to the rise of Julius Caesar?

Answer 1

Long before Julius Caesar came into power, the Roman Republic had entered a state of rapid decline and the life of the average Roman seemed to be getting worse. Attempts to reform the situation by two brothers, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, were met with opposition that eventually resulted in their deaths. In addition, slavery was on the rise, and violent slave revolts were commonplace.

Finally, a new practice developed in which the army was paid with gold and land. Soldiers no longer fought for the good of the Republic but fought instead for tangible rewards. Gradually, soldiers became more loyal to the generals who could pay them than to the Roman Republic itself. It was within this changing atmosphere that military leaders such as Julius Caesar were able to seize control of and put an end to the Roman Republic.