"Greatness might have cost the Romans their freedom, but it gave them the world" - Tom Holland Julius Caesar completely changed Rome. He initiated transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Without this morph in government, Ancient Roman culture as it is known to the modern world never would have existed. This is because the Pax Romana, during which Roman culture really developed, would not have been started by Augustus if Julius Caesar had not first set the groundwork for the Republic to become the Empire. The Republic before Caesar was a volatile and unstable place, and Caesar brought it out of this state. Although the Roman Republic seemed as if it was a stable form of government, its transformation was inevitable, and Julius Caesar saved Rome by initiating this transformation, bringing about the Pax Romana. Caesar was tall, had a "fair complexion, shapely limbs, a somewhat full face, keen black eyes," and was of very good health until his mid-fifties. He cared very much about his appearance and was thoroughly ashamed of his baldness. He was so ashamed, in fact, that he …show more content…
It was unavoidable. The Roman social culture during the Republic was unstable in its nature. The Romans believed in equality (among clans in the Comita Tributa), but every individual also had the social obligation to be looked on with favor in his fellow Roman 's eyes (Holland). This was the real downfall of the Republic. With each person looking for favor in his fellow man 's eyes, he also craved power. With everyone (especially politicians) in Rome craving power, it was inevitable that at some point in time someone would step out of the crowd and take control of Rome. This person was Julius Caesar. The Romans were very lucky to have Caesar as the one who stepped out and took control, rather than a selfish tyrant who would have brought Rome down with