Lesson 3: From Republic to EmpireAs time passed, the area controlled by Rome increased. This brought Rome more power and wealth, but many problems as well. People began to long for a strong ruler who could bring order out of the chaos.
Caesar to the Rescue!
In 49 B.C.E., a Roman general named Julius Caesar returned from the battlefields to lead his people. Caesar took all political power into his own hands and was given the title of dictator for life. Rome was nows an empire, and Caesar was its emperor.
Caesar introduced many significant reforms. He reduced government corruption, gave more political power to new Roman families, and appointed men of integrity to help run Rome's many distant provinces. Caesar also gave land back to small farmers and cut heavy taxes.
The older Senate members resented the changes Caesar made and the power he held as emperor. They wanted to return to the days of the Republic when the Senate was all-powerful. They were also offended by Caesar's appearance in public in royal clothing and his construction of a statue of himself beside those of earlier kings. Caesar even had his profile added to the coins of his day, something no living person had done before. This further angered his opponents.
Caesar's enemies finally had enough. In 44 B.C.E., a group of them surrounded Caesar as he entered the Senate building. Pulling daggers from under their togas, they stabbed Caesar to death.
Send In Activity 3:
Research the Roman Emperors
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