Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar 

• Caesar was from an old patrician family that had come down in the world, and he entered the city's politics as a young man determined to regain the fame and power of his ancestors 
• in the social struggles, he sided with the poorer citizens and used his influence with them to advance his own cause.
• in 60 B.C. he began to collaborate with gnaeus pompeius (pompey) an officer promoted by Sulla who had conquered many eastern Mediterranean lands.  the 2 allies formed a triumvirate, together with another guy named Marcus Crassus
• Rubicon- a river; Julius Caesar had to make a decision there to cross it and conquer the land, or come with a small army and still get fame.  
• He came with his whole army and invaded Rome to try and take it over
• He took over and he became a dictator with a 10-year term and he was involved in all the branches of government
• He extended Roman citizenship to parts of Gaul and Spain and appointed citizens from the provinces to the senate.