Caesar v.s Augustus

      Who was a better and more important ruler, Caesar or Augustus? I believe that Augustus was a better leader than Caesar because of the accomplishments he had and the ideas and morals he carried. Augustus was born in Rome on September 23rd, 63 B.C. He was born Gaius Octavius,  yet when Julius Caesar who was his great uncle died and he became heir to the throne because in his will Caesar had adopted them. He changed his name to Augustus in 27 B.C. at the same time he became Rome's first emperor. Augustus decided that instead of naming himself to be a dictator, he would create the principate, which was a kind of monarchy where one emperor held control for life. Through his life Augustus had quite a few accomplishments, though expanding the empire of Rome, and reorganizing all aspects such and the military and the government, Augustus was able to provide a new era of prosperity. This era of prosperity turned out to be 200 years of Pax Romana (Roman Peace) which went on until A.D 180. Augustus also set out to make an empire that was strong AND safe.. He created an army of over 150,000 men that was permanent. In addition to this there was the Praetorian Guard, which was a force of 90,000 men which were all guarding the empire. Through Augustus' reign they conquered Spain, Gaul, and what is now present day Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. He took Rome and rebuilt it adding palaces, fountains and public buildings, the arts also flourished during this period. Augustus also had a kind streak, he fed the poor, he also reformed the legal system so that there were new rules for non-citizens. Augustus also created the proconsul or someone who governed each one of Rome's provinces, these replaced politicians. Augustus died in A.D 14 after ruling for 40 years. His influences on Rome though were not forgotten, and he was worshipped as if he was a god. 

Was Caesar a Reformer or a Dictator?

      There is a lengthy debate about the question wether Julius Caesar was a dictator or a reformer. Historians argue over this point, both sides with valid arguments. Yet I believe that Julius Caesar was a reformer. I believe this because of multiple reasons, such as:
Caesar gained the loyalty and support of his soldiers by having leadership skills and strategy.
He treated the people that he defeated well, and on some occasions he even included them inside the government.
Caesar ended the corruption within the society of nobles.
We know that Caesar brought a sense of order and peace to Rome.
Cities that had been destroyed by the republic, Caesar rebuilt.
He took Rome and strengthened and expanded it
Found jobs for the poor
Granted citizenship to people outside of Rome, from other cities and states.
Through all these improvements and achievement, I believe Julius Caesar bettered Rome. He had ambition to some this might have been taken as a sign of greed, yet it was a drive to better a republic. 

.Geography and Climate of Italian Peninsula

          Italy is a long, narrow peninsula what is in a distinctive shape; that of resembling a high-heeled boot with it's heel towards Greece and it's toe as if it was "kicking" Sicily. Across the very top of this peninsula, are the Alps, these are the mountains which makes Italy cut off from the other European lands. This is not the only mountain range though, there are the Apennines which run on the east of the peninsula from north to south.
In some ways the Italian peninsula has similarities to Greece yet the Apennines mountain range is not as rugged.
Since Italy's mountains can be crossed more easily the result is the peninsula not being divided into many small, separate communities such as Greece. Also the farmland was better for Italy since there was flat land, and could support crops. With the farming, the population of Italy could be more. The climate of Italy was quite mild and throughout the peninsula there is mostly what is called a Mediterranean climate, yet where the mountainous regions are located the climate tends to be quite a bit cooler. The climate and the rich soil which is good for crops is what most probably attracted the first people to come to settle within Italy. These newcomers settled upon the hills and the plains. Within these people were Latins who would then develop Rome. Rome was developed on the Latium plain which is located in central Italy. This is around 24 kilometers up the Tiber River starting from the Mediterranean Sea. This was good for the Romans because it allowed them a close source of water plus a simple enough way to the rest of the world located within the Mediterranean. Yet this was all far so that Rome would not have to deal with the dangers of raids from pirates. This was substantial enough protection but Rome was also created on seven hills which were steep, so they would protect against any enemy attackers. Due to the fact that you could also cross the Tiber River quite easily, Rome became a place in which people who traveled north and south  within western Italy and merchants upon the west Mediterranean sea could stop. 

Blogpost #1: Legends of Rome

Describe the two legends of the founding of Rome. Then explain how and when
    Rome was actually founded. Remember to include at least one image!


The first legend was of was of twin brothers Remus and Romulus abandoned near Tiber River rescued by a wolf, but then raised by a sheep hearder, they then went on to build and create Rome in 753 B.C. Remus would constantly tease Romulus over a wall he was creating. Eventually anger bubbled inside of Romulus and he murdered his brother and he became then king of Rome naming it after himself.

The second legend can be traced back to to an epic by a famous Roman poet named Virgil. The epic is the Aeneid and is about the Trojan hero Aeneas. After the Greeks had captured Troy he sailed with a band of followers across the Mediterranean. After their extensive journey, they landed in Tiber. Then through marrying the local king's daughter he united the Trojans and Latins, which were the local people and he then became the "father" of Rome.


The actually theory historians believe in is that Latins lived in the area Rome was to be as early as 1000 B.C but in around 800 B.C to 700 B.C they banded together for protection, thus founding Rome.