How did Augustus transform rome into an empire?

Question

What are the five most significant ways that Augustus transformed himself into an emperor and Rome into an empire?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, the readings assigned on this topic are very difficult to interpret.

Answer 1

1.he introduced democracy to rome
2.he lowered taxes to the citizens.
3. he let people from other foreign coutries become citizens
4. took advice from the senate for the benefit of rome
5. he was a very peaceful leader

Answer 2

Rome became an empire before it got an emperor. Empire is our later English word for a state composed of many nations. The Roman Empire got started with Rome's peaceful + warlike absorption of the rest of Italy (<200BC); the conquest of Carthage in the Punic Wars (200BC); and the conquest of Greece (~150BC).

Emperor is our later English word derived from imperator. An imperator was a person to whom the senate voted the maius imperium. The maius imperium was the power to order Roman citizens punished with beating or death. It was routinely voted to generals about to lead armies in foreign parts. It expired when they returned. As one of many honors and titles, the senate voted Octavius Caesar the maius imperium for life. Other titles voted to him were tribune for life, Ausustus (great), and Princeps (first citizen).

After he defeated Antony and Cleopatra (17BC), Augustus gave it out that he was retiring to private life. Every 10 years, he ran for election as one of the two Consuls for the year. Certain key provinces he reserved for himself to appoint governors. The senate appopinted governors for the other. He ran the government behind the scenes, meeting every morning at his house with the "friends of the prince."