The Careers of Julius Caesar and Octavian - Essay Example

Caesar not only created a central government in Rome but also suppressed all the armed resistance which was out in different provinces. The entire was knit into one cohesive unit by establishing a new constitution; Octavian was also very actively involved in all these efforts and deserves equal credit if not more. All these goals were accomplished by Caesar and Octavian when they comprehensively defeated Pompey and his allies. The Republican form of government could not do anything significant to stop Caesar and Octavian; Caesar decreased their power and kept increasing his power to become one of the most influential dictators of all time.

Caesar reformed the calendar which is considered to be the most important of his reforms. “Caesar carried out his reforms in the traditional manner, in the centuriate and tribal assemblies, the senate, and through edicts. He rarely tampered with the traditions of the Republic; only in his concepts of citizenship and the provinces did his visionary genius truly appear. Despite this moderation, people were more and more beginning to speak of Caesar the Tyrant or Caesar the King, though no grounds for such thoughts were visible in his reforms.” (The Reforms of Caesar) These were some of the most important contributions of Caesar and Octavian.