How Did Julius Caesar Influence Roman Politics

As Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River on January 10, 49 B.C., he began to tip the Roman political direction. The transition from a republic, a form of government primarily run by the Senate, to an empire, a form of government presided over by a single person, began. The context of the political climate prior to the crossing of the Rubicon, Caesar’s ability to act as salesmen and a connector, and the stickiness of Caesar’s ideas all equally contributed to the dramatic change in Roman politics.
The context of the political climate leading up to Caesar’s climactic move was beginning to decay in the sense of morals and public trust. Preceding Caesar, the Roman government consisted of three parts. The consuls were the first group; these two

He was able to convince Pompey, an established Roman general, and Marcus Crassus, one of the richest men in Rome, to join forces and combined they created the unofficial political alliance called the First Triumvirate. Gladwell describes a connector as a person who is capable of keeping several productive relationships, and Caesar fits this category because Crassus and Pompey were on different sides of this political turnover. Pompey favored the senate, and Crassus supported the idea of more representation in government. Caesar brought these two people together and combined their political alliance was unprecedented. Pompey was able to slow down or control the Senate when they tired to limit Caesar’s outreach, and Crassus helped to fund Caesar’s expansion campaigns in Spain. Caesar’s skill of connecting people helped him further advance himself in the world of Roman

Gladwall states in Tipping Point, “And once the advice became practical and personal, it became memorable.” This statement coincides with Caesar’s message, meaning that once the average Roman could apply Caesar’s ideas to their lives and agree with them, the more they pushed and supported it. “Caesar proposed legislation for reform of government, opposing Optimate sentiment, and a redistribution of land to the poor. His initiatives were supported by Crassus’ wealth and Pompey’s soldiers, thus solidly aligning The First Triumvirate.” Caesar’s reforms favored the majority of the Roman people both on a personal and practical level. This is why Caesar’s message was so stickily; he was the face that the Roman People had long been waiting