Caesar's Dictatorship.
In 45 BC Caesar became the dictator of Rome. When Caesar was dictator he established order and reduced congestion in Rome. One of the problems he had to face was widespread debt in Rome. To deal with this, Caesar ordered that property must be accepted for repayment at its pre-war value. He also reinstated a previous law which forbade the holding of more than 60,000 sesterces in cash by any one person. Caesar cancelled all interest payments due since the beginning of 49 BC and allowed tenants to pay no rent for a year. These things helped get rid of the debt Rome had and made the citizens of Rome happier and it boosted Rome's economy.
There was also widespread unemployment in Rome. As a way to reduce the unemployment, the poor were offered a new life in Rome's overseas colonies. But those who stayed behind and depended on a monthly supply of grain suffered when Caesar cut the grain rations in half, but he did arrange for better supervision of the city's grain supply and he also helped to improve access to grain from overseas by contructing a new harbor at Ostia and a new canal from Tarracina.
Caesar's perception of prosperity in Rome dealt with mostly the citizens. He increased the number of senators from five hundred to nine hundred, and to fill the vacant seats he selected many of the citizens. Citizens then had a say in the government and Caesar could listen to them and address their issues. Caesar also helped the poor by making sure the spread or wealth across Rome was fairly equal, so no one was too rich or too poor.
Caesar also constructed new public buildings as a method to reduce unemployment, but he also wanted to enhance the city's appearance because he felt Rome was unimpressive compared to Alexandria. The Forum Julium was built to provide more space for lawcourts, and the Saepta Julia provided a large enclosure for voting. Caesar also ordered the contruction of a new senate house and he sought to divert the Tiber River away from Rome to prevent flooding and add to the city's area. He had also planned to build a grand temple of Mars, a theater that would rival Pompey's, and a library that would rival Alexandria's but was not able to see these two buildings completed as he was killed before they were finished. Julius Caesar was killed on March 15, 44 BC when a group of senators stabbed him to death.
There was also widespread unemployment in Rome. As a way to reduce the unemployment, the poor were offered a new life in Rome's overseas colonies. But those who stayed behind and depended on a monthly supply of grain suffered when Caesar cut the grain rations in half, but he did arrange for better supervision of the city's grain supply and he also helped to improve access to grain from overseas by contructing a new harbor at Ostia and a new canal from Tarracina.
Caesar's perception of prosperity in Rome dealt with mostly the citizens. He increased the number of senators from five hundred to nine hundred, and to fill the vacant seats he selected many of the citizens. Citizens then had a say in the government and Caesar could listen to them and address their issues. Caesar also helped the poor by making sure the spread or wealth across Rome was fairly equal, so no one was too rich or too poor.
Caesar also constructed new public buildings as a method to reduce unemployment, but he also wanted to enhance the city's appearance because he felt Rome was unimpressive compared to Alexandria. The Forum Julium was built to provide more space for lawcourts, and the Saepta Julia provided a large enclosure for voting. Caesar also ordered the contruction of a new senate house and he sought to divert the Tiber River away from Rome to prevent flooding and add to the city's area. He had also planned to build a grand temple of Mars, a theater that would rival Pompey's, and a library that would rival Alexandria's but was not able to see these two buildings completed as he was killed before they were finished. Julius Caesar was killed on March 15, 44 BC when a group of senators stabbed him to death.