Complex sentence: At the time it was relatively easy for a man of humble origins to attain even the highest commands, so it the populace readily identified with popular admirals, not unlike the sportstars of our day.
Split into simpler sentences: At the time it was possible for a man of humble origins to attain the highest commands. The populace readily identified with popular admirals, in a way not unlike not unlike the acclaim for sportstars of our day.