What was the bread and circuses policy and how did Romans politicians benefit from it?

"Bread and circuses" is a term coined by the Roman poet Juvenal. It referred to the emperor's "congiarium" or gifts to the people of either free grain, oil, wine or money and the entertainment of the races and other events paid for by the emperors or during the republic, by political candidates. The politicians benefited because the people remembered their generosity at election time and the emperors benefited by quelling any civil unrest.