Ancient Rome: History and Culture

The popular measures put through by Caesar in his last years are somewhat less well known. As Parenti tells us, he secured land for his veterans and distributed estates around Capua to some 20,000 poor Roman families. A programme of public works was begun, large landowners were required to reserve a third of their labour force for the employment of free Romans. Caesar pushed through rent reductions, obtained a decrease in payments wrung from the provinces, reduced debt burdens, granted Jews the right to practice their religion legally, and gave Roman citizenship to any foreign doctors or liberal arts professors wishing to reside in Rome. He took care that his measures were approved by the Comitia Tributa (the popular Assembly of Roman Tribes) and arranged for the publication of all Senatorial and Assembly decrees. He also granted to the citizens of Athens the right to restore their democratic constitution if they so desired.