Historian and Professor David Potter (University of Michigan) discusses his latest book Master of Rome: A Life of Julius Caesar (published August 2025). He explores the mysteries of Caesar's early life, the shaping of his public image by biographers, and the challenge of separating fact from fiction in ancient sources.
Highlights include Caesar's influential mother Aurelia, his scandalous time in Bithynia, his dramatic capture by pirates, the Caesar family's recent rise to wealth, and the myths behind the "Caesar" name. Potter also examines how supporters like Gaius Oppius rewrote history to counter the assassins' portrayal of Caesar as a tyrant.
đź“š Buy David Potter's book here:
Master of Rome: The Life of Julius Caesar
https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0190867183
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by Helen Rappaport
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by W. Jeffrey Tatum
https://www.worldhistory.org/books/019769490X
Spy novels by Daniel Silva
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An Inside Job
https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0008728968
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https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0063384361
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Potter, D. (2026, September 30). Lecture #5: The Early Life of Julius Caesar: Before the Empire. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/3449/lecture-5-the-early-life-of-julius-caesar/
Chicago Style
Potter, David. "Lecture #5: The Early Life of Julius Caesar: Before the Empire." World History Encyclopedia, September 30, 2026. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/3449/lecture-5-the-early-life-of-julius-caesar/.
MLA Style
Potter, David. "Lecture #5: The Early Life of Julius Caesar: Before the Empire." World History Encyclopedia, 30 Sep 2026, https://www.worldhistory.org/video/3449/lecture-5-the-early-life-of-julius-caesar/.
