This is a preview of our members-only content, to get access to the whole series, sign up today at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYK0BJZF3yNb2fw1EdAXUQ/join Born into a fading patrician family in a Roman Republic already buckling under the weight of empire, Julius Caesar seemed an unlikely figure to transform history. Mary Beard joins Tom and Dominic to trace his extraordinary rise: from pirates and political deal-making to the conquest of Gaul, the crossing of the Rubicon, civil war with Pompey and his emergence as dictator for life. But how did Caesar destroy the old Republican order, why did his enemies assassinate him, and did his career establish a political playbook that still resonates today? 0:00 Julius Caesar’s Rome 7:32 Caesar’s early life and ambitions 9:16 Caesar and King Nicomedes 12:20 Kidnapped by pirates 16:27 Caesar and Alexander the Great 17:10 Caesar’s political rise 19:04 Pompey, Crassus and the First Triumvirate 21:07 Caesar sets his sights on conquest 23:33 The conquest of Gaul 24:45 Caesar invades Britain 27:26 The Triumvirate collapses 31:05 Caesar’s enemies close in 32:40 The road to the Rubicon 34:50 Caesar crosses the Rubicon 35:38 Civil war with Pompey 36:53 Pompey’s death 37:19 Caesar and Cleopatra 39:01 “I came, I saw, I conquered” 39:45 Caesar becomes ruler of Rome 41:03 Dictator for life 41:45 Caesar’s reforms 44:10 The conspiracy against Caesar 45:13 The assassination of Julius Caesar 46:00 Caesar’s killers lose control 47:00 Caesar’s historical legacy 48:02 Does Caesarism still exist today? Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Social channels: https://www.instagram.com/theresthistory/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theresthistory https://x.com/TheRestHistory https://bsky.app/profile/theresthistory.bsky.social https://www.threads.com/@theresthistory Video Editor: Jack Meek, Harry Swan & Adam Thornton Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Aaliyah Akude & Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Callum Hill Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley