9/11/13
6.7.4 Discuss the influence of Julius Caesar and Augustus in Rome's transition from Republic to Empire.
Roman history is important in aiding both an understanding of the ancient world history as well as the influences of the American government system including the breakdown of the executive and legislative branches. Julius Caesar unlike Sulla and Crassus before him was the unique individual that truly brought about the beginning of a transition from the Roman Republic to and Empire even though in the present context it was never publically referred to as so. The idea of "Princeps" or first citizen which was a practice started by Caesar's adopted son Octavian; later Augustus has links to our own presidents. From this transitioning period we see civil wars, proscriptions (political assassinations) massive corruption and use of bribes and military extortion. It is a paramount example of the influences that power can have on single individuals and why certain checks and balances exist in our own system here in the US which include term limits much like the limits of Roman Consuls in this important era of history. Students need to understand that our system that has stood from the late 18th century did not simply arise from minds born in a vacuum. The forefathers had influences from all sorts of political systems and ideals from around the globe.