The Most Important Figures of Antiquity Pericles and Julius Caesar - Case Study Example

Pericles and Julius Caesar Pericles and Julius Caesar have come to be recognized by historians as two of the seminal figures of antiquity. While it’sclear both individuals share many similar traits, it’s perhaps in the differences that reveal the most about these individuals and the cultures of which they were apart. As two of the preeminent civilizations of antiquity, the inclination to compare the cultures of Greece and Rome is inevitable. While both civilizations exhibited tremendous advancements in politics and culture, they also exhibit distinct differences that attest to the varying nature of their worlds. An interesting feature of investigation concerning ancient Greece and ancient Rome concerns the degrees to which their geography is similar, as this feature affects later political and economic development. While both countries are Mediterranean, the relative features of their terrain vary greatly. The Greek cities had the advantage of being separated by large hills, which protected them against invading tribes. They also bordered a relied heavily on their contiguity to the ocean. While Rome was mountainous – it famously was found by settlers who naturally habituated on the city’s largest hills – the hills weren’t as strategically positioned to prevent invading barbarian tribes as their Greek counterparts. This essay considers the lives of two of these two men – Pericles and Julius Caesar -- that greatly shaped Greek and Roman culture through their military conquests and subsequent political rule; it argues that the subtle differences in their lives are a testament to the divergent nature of ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Pericles was born in 495 BC in what was considered the Greek Golden Age (Abbott 1998). Similar to Julius Caesar who would emerge a few centuries later, he was a recognized statesman, orator, and general. Also similar to Caesar, Pericles is recognized as having a tremendously influential impact on the culture of which he was apart. In Pericles’ case he has been referred to as the ‘first citizen of Athens’ by his contemporaries for his great and profound contributions to Greek culture and society. These monumental contributions represent perhaps his greatest similarity to Julius Caesar who also individually shaped the very fabric of the culture and society around him to a great extent. When considering the development and early lives of both individuals it’s clear they shared a number of similar elements. Both men were descendants of nobility, and while Pericles father had been outcast for a period, it is clear they had significant advantages in youth. In terms of vision Caesar and Pericles demonstrated a number of divergent opinions. While Caesar was a progressive thinker who embraced education and intellectual virtues, historians recognize that Pericles contribution to this field of thought was outstanding as he greatly embraced Greek art and culture. This distinction is highly relevant as it underlines what many believe to be one of the crucial divisive elements in terms of these two countries of antiquity. When considering the differing art of the two cultures, history has been more favorable to the Greek work of antiquity than the Roman. While Roman art tended towards imitation and decoration, Greek art – influenced by the philosophical writings of Plato – attempted to capture ideal artistic forms. Art historians have documented distinct phases of Greek artistry, including the Mycenaean and Hellenistic periods; conversely Roman art of antiquity is generally characterized through generic conventions, notably the fresco and mosaic formats (Canfora 1996). Within this art one may further contend that there are deeper elements or conventions of these rulers and the way these perspectives took hold in the societies they so profoundly impacted. In these regards, it appears that while Greek culture through Pericles embraced the concept of intellectual knowledge and the examined life, the Caesarian vision was one of instinctual and emotional realizations. While Julius Caesar promoted democracy throughout the Roman Republic, towards the latter end of his reign he became more aligned with a dictatorship. This political approach stands in contrast to that of Pericles who it can be argued embraced democracy in a more equitable and truer sense. Yet, some scholars still indicate that both men’s rises to power were very much similar in that they Still, both men achieved sustained power through similar means, namely conquests in war. They also advanced a general democratic philosophy and perspective as a means of gaining control, and then later switched to a more dictatorial stance as this power position was ultimately achieved. Whereas Julius Caesar gained great acclaim for his conquests and in Gaul and proto-Napoleonic vision for the Roman Empire, Pericles achieved power as a general in a number of conflicts during his lifespan. Perhaps the most seminal in these regards is his participation in the First Peloponnesian War wherein he proved himself as a capable and competent general (Grant 1993). Similar to Caesar, Pericles proved himself in battle over a highly sustained period, of which largely contributed to his esteem within Greecian society. Perhaps it is a testament to Julius Caesar’s overwhelming control and charismatic ardor that ultimately was betrayed and murdered by one of his political rivals. It’s also indicative of the social order in which Caesar lived, as compared to the more intellectually and artistically based Greek culture in which Pericles’ resided. In conclusion, it’s clear that there are a great many similarities and differences between Julius Caesar and Pericles. Perhaps most notable is that both men shaped the society in which they lived in to a great extent through military conquests and subsequent political domination. In terms of differentiating features, Pericles’ more greatly emphasized art and culture than Julius Caesar who embraced a more instinctual approach to culture and existence. These are traits that would become embedded elements in the nature of ancient Greek and Roman culture. Perhaps appropriately they would become embedded in the nature of each man’s demise, as Pericles would die a natural death, and Caesar would be brutally murdered by a political rival. Ultimately, both men represent seminal figures in the history of Western civilization, and their contributions continue to effect even contemporary culture. References Abbott, Evelyn (1998). Pericles and the Golden Age of Athens. G. P. Putnams Sons Canfora, Luciano (2006). Julius Caesar: The Peoples Dictator Grant, Arthur James (1993). Greece in the Age of Pericles. John Murray Read More