Julius Caesar

As Rome's conquests increased ,the Roman way of life changed. The wealthy were able to buy and farm huge estates , using slaves to do the work. Poor families were forced to sell their farms and drift to Rome. Here they joined the masses of unemployed people in the slums of the city. To keep these people satisfied and calm , the magistrates organised free bread and games .

Professional soldiers, far from home for years at a time, became more loyal to their generals than to the consuls and senate in Rome. One ambitious general, Julius Caesar, took advantage of this to seize power.

Born into a wealthy, noble family , Caesar was elected a consul and was then appointed a governor of Gaul. From 58 - 49 BC he conquered all Gaul pushing the frontiers of the Roman Empire up to the Rhine. He even sailed to Britain in 55BC. Extremely popular with his soldiers, he returned to rome in 49BC and took power from the Senate. His soldiers called him 'Imperator' or 'Emperor'.

These are some of the reforms of Caesar's rule: (Use bottom p146 & top 147) :

Caesar's Death

(Explain how and why Caesar was assassinated using top p147)