The rule of Caligula, the Roman Emperor from 37 to 41 AD, is known for its extravagance and excess,

which had a significant impact on the Roman economy. Caligula's spending on building projects,
including the construction of a bridge of boats across the Bay of Naples and the completion of the
Temple of Augustus and Rome, put a strain on the economy and led to increased taxes and inflation.
Additionally, Caligula's decision to mint large numbers of coins with his own image on them, in order to
fund his extravagant lifestyle, led to a debasement of the currency.

One of the major economic impacts of Caligula's rule was his excessive spending on building projects.
According to Anthony A. Barrett in his book "Caligula: The Corruption of Power", the emperor's building
projects were "enormously expensive" and required the "imposition of new taxes and the confiscation
of property" (Barrett, 1989, p. 91). This put a strain on the economy and led to increased taxes and
inflation.

Another significant impact of Caligula's rule on the Roman economy was his decision to mint large
numbers of coins with his own image on them. According to Aloys Winterling in his book "Caligula: A
Biography", this decision was made in order to fund Caligula's extravagant lifestyle and to "increase his
own prestige" (Winterling, 2017, p. 84). However, this led to a debasement of the currency, as the new
coins were made of less valuable metals. This had a negative impact on the economy and led to a
decline in the value of money.

It is important to note that while Caligula's actions did have a negative impact on the Roman economy, it
is not entirely clear to what extent it was due to his rule and how much was already troubled during the
Tiberius rule and the political instability at the time. The Roman economy was complex and
multifaceted, and it is difficult to attribute specific causes to specific effects.

In conclusion, the rule of Caligula had a significant impact on the Roman economy due to his extravagant
spending on building projects and his decision to mint large numbers of coins with his own image on
them. These actions led to increased taxes and inflation, and a debasement of the currency. While it is
difficult to determine the specific extent of the impact of Caligula's rule on the Roman economy, it is
clear that his actions had a negative effect.

Bibliography

Barrett, A. A. (1989). Caligula: The Corruption of Power. London: Routledge.

Winterling, A. (2017). Caligula: A Biography. Berkeley: University of California Press