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Hi everyone
long time lurker, this is my first post so be gentle lol!
there are two main pods Augustus in my timeline becomes a patron of Minerva the Roman goddess of medicine and knowledge and the early discovery of the Balkan silver lodes centred on Novo mons (in modern day Kosovo)
March 23BC imperial palace Rome
the large gaudily decorated bed held a rather sorry looking Augustus swaddled in heavy quilts, by his side sits a middle aged woman dressed in plain clothes speaking quietly but firmly with the Emperor 'the construction of public works and temples continues to employ large numbers of the urban plebeians. However at the same time reliance on the grain dole to survive means that we have a permanent underclass with no real hope of bettering themselves they rely on your mercy Augustus to prosper. Would it not be a better route to encourage thrift and hard work rather than bread and circuses?' Augustus nods and replies
'that is all very well but the money to pay for the betterment of the poor is another thing! your help with my illness has no doubt saved me from death however my gratitude only stretches so far and no more i am afraid' the women looked back into his eyes and replied 'you seek to restore the glory of the Republic from the top down by improving morality and promoting family values, but ignore the majority letting them revel in sensuality and foreign cults.'
'firm ideas and morals tend to be eroded by cold reality'
'I propose that you through your generosity endow a gymnasium for the education of the poor citzens of Rome, along with a gymnasium for the education of Doctors'
'An expensive undertaking with what benefit for Rome?
'for one thing compete with the Greek domination of medicine in the Empire, another give the poor a chance to better themselves, while making you to truest of patrons of the everyday citizen!
meanwhile just outside the borders of the Roman province of Macedonia
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