How Did Julius Caesar Use Propaganda

Although modernized, the use of propaganda as a tool for approval can be traced back through the Roman Empire and just prior, to Gaius Julius Caesar. The rise of the Roman Empire began shortly after the death of Caesar, and many of the emperors followed closely in his footsteps with the use of architecture as propaganda as he had done. This paper will analyze Caesar as one of the first and most successful users of propaganda, and how the Roman emperors after him used architecture as propaganda. Julius Caesar was a Roman Dictator who ruled during the Roman Republic. Although the Roman Empire began shortly after his death, and many aspects of his life and ruling are mirrored, Caesar was not a Roman emperor. He was born in 100 B.C.E and was …show more content…
In their book Propaganda & Persuasion, Jowett and O’Donell state, “Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.E) was particularly adept at using propaganda techniques throughout his rise to power and during his move to assert totalitarian power” (63). One of his early methods was to depict his military successes and himself as the peoples protector on coins, knowing that the coins were widely spread and would reach many. He often used his military stories to create fear within the people, and then portray himself as their hero, keeping them safe. Along with his stories from his military experience, he commonly picked fights with groups much weaker than him and used these stories to prove necessary he was to the Republic. “Julius Caesar was a master propagandist, equaled only by Napoleon and Hitler in his understanding of meaningful symbols and in his ability to understand instinctively the psychological needs of his audience” (Jowett and O’Donnell 63). He understood that the people needed to feel protected, and created opportunities to prove …show more content…
The Temple of Divus Iulius was created by Augustus in the Forum Romanum and was dedicated in 29 B.C.E. Creating this temple with the name and dedication to his uncle and adoptive father, on the site where he was cremated, established this clear connection between Augustus and the people, giving them another space to remind them of the deceased Caesar, and now his heir. Through elements of plan and decoration the Temple of Divus Iulius develops connection between Octavian and Julius Caesar, associating the victories of the son with those of his adoptive and divine father, and linking the Temple of Divus Iulius and the Temple of Venus Genetrix… (Phillips 382)
Although no longer alive, Caesar had established a legacy and Augustus could use this to create his