Ambition Without Boundaries

How Julius Caesar's Thirst for Conquest Shaped the Ancient World, and Impacted the Modern One

By: Jack Johnson

Narrated by: Jim Johnston

Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

This biography on one of history's most storied figures takes listeners on an exciting journey through the detailed history of Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was a man who influenced the world in unparalleled ways, and his story is one loaded with an extravagant cast of politicians, generals, and royalty. It makes for a riveting tale of intrigue and melodrama.

The audiobook begins with Caesar's early life, and the humble background from which he came. His accounts of great triumphs and great defeats are all included, as his exciting and eventful life is traced through the minutes of the book. Caesar was part of a time where record keeping was incredibly proficient, and the pieces we have to put together the life of this man and those around him are plentiful. Caesar's story is important down to the last detail, and this book encapsulates the details that matter, and help paint a picture of this legendary figure and the tumultuous time in which he lived.

The greatest forms of entertainment can be found in the truth, rather than fiction, and Caesar's life is proof of this. It is history that tells us the most extravagant and unbelievable stories. No matter what amount of speculation or conjecture you throw into this story, the impact of Caesar's life is undeniable. His legacy is one that must be heard, and all that you could want to know about the man lies within this audiobook.

©2016 Jack Johnson (P)2016 Jack Johnson

Super Superficial

Like most scholars pontificating upon Julius Caesar's life, he confuses the Senate with the Roman Republic and vice versa. What is good for the senatorial class is not necessarily or even mostly good for the Republic. The Senate rules by decree and so long as the Senatorial magistrates agree, the decree's are enforced, but only the Assemblies can pass laws which in all cases overrule Senatorial decrees. The assemblies are cumbersome and susceptible to manipulation by bribes. Only the most talented and charismatic politicians can get the assemblies to pass laws in the face of senatorial opposition. Caesar was one such, but not the only one. The senate's answer to every politician who passed laws in opposition to the moneyed interests was assassination. Caesar was just the last and most famous, but he was not the exception. Everything Caesar did was a result of laws passed by the assemblies. The laws were passed not by bribery but by oratory and personality, and even his opponents agreed they benefited the Republic. His assassins agreed all Caesar's laws were to remain in force--especially as only the Assemblies could repeal them and the assemblies would rather put them to death. Also the author talks about Caesar wanting to be deified in life. There is no contemporary evidence that was so, or even that he wanted to be King--yeah there was a lot of later speculation that when Caesar refused the diadem he didn't really mean it, wink-wink, but there is no reason to believe that Caesar was losing his grip and wanted to abrogate the power of the Assemblies where his strength and legitimacy lay. It was the citizens of Rome who spontaneously built a temple to worship him after his death, while at the same time burning down the Senate chamber--in case the assassins were in any doubt as to where the popular sentiment lay. It is also unfair to judge Caesar by the conduct of his heir Augustus, who wasn't half the politician Caesar was. If you really want to know more about the absolutely fascinating life of Caesar then Adrian Goldsworthy's book Caesar, Life of a Colossus is the most readable and definitive scholarly work of the modern era.