Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator

My understanding of Roman history is fairly limited but this short series without speaking characters but a range of speaking heads blends nicely the facts, so far as they go, and a feel for the harsh Roman times. There are clearly parallels to be drawn with later political events although it would be stretching it to say the moral is clear. Caesar was an ambitious man and his way forward was helped by other ambitious but less capable men.

That the Roman republic lasted so long was itself amazing and that the dictatorial system which followed was also pretty successful is a commentary on both systems, but we should be cautious in applying more than some general principles to modern democracy or to modern self appointed demi-gods.

Overall, informative and entertaining. Ideal television.