Roman entertainment such as theaters, circuses, and gladiator fights in the Colosseum helped keep citizens happy and distracted from the empire's problems. The large size of the empire made it difficult for the Senate to govern effectively, leading to corruption and economic issues. This contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic. Julius Caesar took power as a dictator but was later assassinated, plunging Rome into further chaos. Augustus restored order as the first emperor, beginning the Pax Romana period of prosperity and stability that lasted over 200 years.