Who was Julius Caesar? Julius Caesar accomplished many things in his time that most would consider incredible. He was considered a tyrant or dictator and some believe he was one of the world's greatest politicians. In this article we will compare the textbook and documentation written around 44 BC, at the time of his death. Documents are considered “primary sources,” due to the time frame in which they were written. To understand who Julius Caesar truly was, we must not only dive into the primary sources, but we must see his accomplishments. By analyzing his achievements, textbooks, and primary sources we can better understand how Julius Caesar was portrayed during his reign. Julius Caesar was born into a political family where his father expected him to pursue a career at the bottom of politics. When Caesar's father dies, he realizes that money drives the political machine in Rome. He then tries to gain political power by acquiring relationships with political figures who were against the current Roman dictator Sulla. This causes Caesar to be captured, eventually pardoned and freed. Then he went into exile. During the exile he joined the army, but it is unclear whether he served as a soldier or as an assistant. Many believe that due to his family lineage he served as an assistant to the governor (Roman-Empire.net). In any case, after his first assignment he is said to have been in the ranks of the army that defeated Spartacus' rebellion. After the rebellion was put down, he considered his career over, and once he left the army, he went to seek further education. Caesar sought his advanced education in the form of public speaking. This is noted by Cicero when he stated: “Do you know any man…… middle of paper……y. (2004). The assassination of Julius Caesar, 44 BC Retrieved from: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/caesar2.htm (accessed February 21, 2014).-Tranquillus, Gaius Suetonius. (Reproduced from Livy: Articles of Ancient History). Lives of the 12 Caesars. Giuseppe Gavorse. Retrieved from: http://www.livius.org/caa-can/caesar/caesar_t09.html (accessed February 21, 2014).-Plutarch. (Reproduced from the Internet Ancient History Sourcebook, August 2000). The Assassination of Julius Caesar, by Marcus Brutus (excerpts). John Dryden. Retrieved from: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/plutarch-caesar.asp (accessed February 21, 2014).-Athens. (2013). Making of the West, Volume I: to 1750, 4th edition. Retrieved from: VitalSource Bookshelf E-Book downloaded.-Roman-Empire.net. (n.d.). Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44 BC). Retrieved from: http://www.roman-empire.net/republic/caesar.html