Sunday, November 27, 2011

Who do you think was a more important leader, Caesar or Augustus?



Personally, I beleive that Augustus was a much better leader, politician and emperor in general, compared to Caesar. Caesar killed many people, who hurt many innocent women and children, and even though he was loved by many of the poorer people in Rome, he made many enemies. He defied the republic, and declared a civil war, knowing that he was hurting many of his own people, that believed in him and trusted him to make the right decisions. Augustus, however, made many reforms, and like he said himself, Rome was all clay and bricks, until he made it the city of marble. Augustus started importing grains and many other products from Africa and other nations, therefore increasing trade and building a better economical situation for Rome. He created a great protection for the Roman empire, with an army of over 150,00 highly skilled soldiers, all of whom were Roman citizens. Augustus also constructed many marble palaces, fountains and public buildings. He made conquests in modern-day Hungary and Romania, stretching the borders of the Roman Empire. Finally, Augustus made numerous reforms to the law and tax systems, fighting against unfair, greedy tax collectors, as well as corruption. However, most importantly, after Augustus' rule, Rome entered a glorious period in it's history, called the Pax Romana. During this time, arts and science flourished, and Rome was not involved in many wars. Economy was stable, and people lived in peace.
In conclusion, even though Julius Caesar fought for the rights of many underpriviliged citizens, and attempted to expand the Roman Empire, Augustus still had a much more positive impact on Rome's people, as well the city of Rome itself. During his rule, there was much less crime, and he was a lot less blood-thirsty in comparison to his great uncle, Caesar.

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