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Gaius Julius Caesar, named after his beloved Aunt Julia was both an Ambassador and a General, as well as a natural leader. After his campaigns in Gaul, Britain and Scotland, the Mighty Roman Empire had the largest land area in its history. Julius's popularity came from two sources, one he was generous with his money, and second his radical legislation to benefit the common man. He reorganized the government , and lowered taxes to stimulate the economy. He also introduced local government with limited power. But today, New Years Eve 2006 we celebrate his most important and and longest lasting accomplishment The Julian Calendar. Before The Julian Calendar Rome really did not have one standard official calendar, but the lunisolar calendar was the most commonly accepted form of keeping track of time. This system is based on the cycle of the moon and certain Roman holidays, as a result some years had 11 months ans others 13. Caesar desired a calendar based on scientific method. Caesar turned to Sosigenes of Alexandria Greece. For several hundred years Alexandria has been an innovator in astronomical research. Sosigenes introduced Caesar to the works of Anaximander who discovered the ecliptic - the path of the earth around the Sun and the concept that the Earth is round, not flat. Sosigines taught Caesar that a system of mapping the path of the Sun with 4 important reference dates had been used in Egypt for 3000 years. These reference dates being Vernal equinox (beginning of spring)a date of equal day and equal night, Autumnal equinox (beginning of fall) another date of equal day and night, Summer solstice (summer) longest day and shortest night, and winter solstice (winter) shortest day and longest night. The major difference being that the Egyptian new year begins with the Summer solstice, a very important time for Egypt which corresponds with the rising of the star Siris and, the flooding of the Nile hence the beginning of the growing season. The Egyptian calendar consists of 12 months of 30 days plus 5 days at the end of the year. Caesar adapted this calendar with a few changes, first the addition of leap year every 4 years, alternated the days in the month from 30 to 31 instead of the spare 5 days at the end of the year. And in Caesar's honor the month July (Roman spelling Quintilis) is named after him.
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