Small farmers originally formed the Roman army. As they fought in military campaigns far from Rome they could no longer return home for harvests
At the height of the Roman Republic there was huge inequality: 95% of people struggled below the poverty line
Caesar gained political power from a successful military campaign in France (Gaul)
The Roman empire doubled in size in 3rd/2nd century BC
The new Roman empire brought wealth and the rich bought slaves and occupied larger estates
When soldiers returned home from long campaigns they found their land lost to neighbouring nobles and their jobs lost to slaves
Graccus applied for a second year as Tribune of the people, against the rules of the republic
Land reform appalled the Senators – they were the rich landowners who would lose their land
Caesar initiated land reform, distributing it among the poor
Julius Caesar, a wealthy aristocrat, spent lavishly to gain popularity. One example was in the ‘Games’
Caesar became military commander of Gaul in 59BC
The growth of the Roman Empire required a professional, paid, army instead of volunteers
In 45BC Caesar persuaded the Senate to declare him Dictator for life (Dictator Perpetuus)
Graccus did not consult the Senate in passing the land reform bill
Caesar achieved the cancellation of debts and the settlement on their own land of landless veteran soldiers
Caesar was murdered by a posse of senators in the name of ‘liberty’
Caesar abolished the tax system when in power as the Dictator Perpetuus (for life)
Generals in the army negotiated land for their soldiers from the Senate
Tiberius Graccus tried to implement Land reform but he was murdered by the Senate
Caesar carried out land reform, distributing it among the poor
Caesar’s army crossed the Rubicon river and marched on Rome, defeating Pompey in 48BC
Caesar had to deal with many people in debt, unemployment and shortages of food
In 1796 and 1797 Napoleon defeated Austrians in some remarkable battles
1799 France is in debt and food prices continue to rise
Napoleon in 1799 took a small group of soldiers to the Assembly and forced them to hand power over to him in a coup d'état
1802 Napoleon was voted in a plebiscite First Consul for Life and in 1804 crowned Emperor
While Egypt’s democratic government under Morsi was in place, unemployment rose from 9-13% and the debt doubled. 40% lived in poverty
In July 2013 Sisi seized control of the government in a coup saying “I am the one person in Egypt today that can save this country”
