Sima Qian · Julius Caesar Were Sima Qian and Julius Caesar alive at the same time? Yes. Sima Qian and Julius Caesar were alive at the same time, from 100 BC to BC. Sima QianChinese historianBorn 145–135 BC · died 87–86 BCJulius CaesarRoman general and dictatorBorn July 100 BC · died 15 March 44 BC, aged 55 Sima QianCiceroPompeySpartacusJulius CaesarLucretiusCleopatraVirgilHoraceAugustus Sima Qian and Julius Caesar in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.