ROME UNDER JULIUS CAESAR

DICTATOR:49 B.C.E.-44 B.C.E.

EARLY RULE & BECOMING A DICTATOR•He created an important political partnership, called the First Triumvirate, between him, Pompey (a successful general) and Crassus (a rich Roman).

•He conquered Gaul (northern Italy, France, Belgium), and began to build a bigger military.

•Started a civil war and took control of Rome using force.

•Became the dictator of Rome in 49 B.C.E. and was named dictator for life in 44 B.C.E.

ECONOMIC CHANGES

•Severe debt as a result of civil war – Caesar decreased it

•Widespread unemployment – solved by sending the poor over to the new Roman colonies and beginning construction on several new public buildings

•Welfare reform – reduced the number of people on it by half

•Caesar passed an agrarian law which provided land for veterans and the poor

•Improved trade – built a new harbor and canal

•Reformed current tax system

•Changed currency - Roman coins had his face on them

SOCIAL CHANGES

•Added 3 months to the calendar.

•Restored 2 cities that had been previously destroyed: Carthage and Corinth.

•Built several new public buildings – a voting-place (Forum Julium) and a meeting-place – (Saepta Julia).

•Passed a law that encouraged families to have more children to increase Rome’s population.

Improved a major transportation route – Via Appia Antica.

Created of a police force.

Gave citizenship to many foreign people.

POLITICAL CHANGES

•Changed Rome from a republic to dictatorship.

•Created a strong central government by increasing his authority.

•Increased the size of the Senate, and invited some people from the territories he defeated to join his government.

•Required that he would be the first to speak at assembly meetings.

CAESAR’S DOWNFALL AND DEATH

•However, the Senate was concerned about Caesar’s rule because his increasing power was beginning to be a threat. They began plotting against him.

•On March 15, 44 B.C.E., Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the senate house. A group of senators had conspired against him because they did not want the control of Rome to go to one man.

•He left everything to his grandnephew, Octavian, who then became the emperor of Rome.

WORKS CITED

•"Caesar As Dictator: His Impact on the City of Rome." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.ancient.eu/article/112/>.

•"Caesar's Initiates Reforms and Is Assassinated." Caesar's Initiates Reforms and Is Assassinated. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/rome14.htm>.

•"Julius Caesar - Crystalinks." Julius Caesar - Crystalinks. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.crystalinks.com/juliuscaesar.html>.

•"Caesar the 'Dictator'" Caesar the Dictator. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.unrv.com/fall-republic/caesar-dictator.php>.

•"Julius Caesar." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/julius-caesar-9192504#early-rule>.

•"Julius Caesar." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/julius_caesar.html>.

•"Julius Caesar." Julius Caesar. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <http://www.roman-empire.net/republic/caesar.html>.

•http://www.livius.org/articles/concept/senate/