Augustus built many magnificent buildings throughout the empire. Most of the buildings were public. Some of these buildings provided shelter for the homeless. Augustus also improved the roads. Some of the unemployed workers were hired to build these new road systems. Once these road systems were built they provided more trade throughout the empire. Literature flourished with writers. The empire expanded under Augustus with his generals subduing Spain, Gaul, Pannonia, and Dalmatia. He annexed Egypt and most of southwestern Europe up to the Danube River. After his death, the people the Roman Empire worshipped Augustus as a god.
While Augustus was ruling, Roman Empire had one of the most peaceful periods in its long history. He personally gave lots of his wealth to the citizens of Empire. His laws and regulations created a great economy which, in return, made his Empire survive for centuries. Augustus created the basic government structure. Rome achieved great glory under Octavian/Augustus. He restored peace after 100 years of civil war; maintained an honest government and a sound currency system; extended the highway system connecting Rome with its far-flung empire; developed an efficient postal service; fostered free trade among the provinces
The reforms of Augustus as well as his long life contributed to the idea that he was something more than human, he was certainly a hero, the Romans thought, perhaps even a god. Caesar also introduced many new reforms. One of the reforms stated that proconsuls should no longer exploit the provinces. Another reform stated that were replaced by government officials. His reforms of the system of Roman government were important. He compromised between inherited traditions and a changed economic, political and social reality. In other words, he effectively mixed the old and the new, a typically Roman idea. His system of reforms save the Empire, but in the long run spelled the death of representative institutions. Augustus never did away with these institutions; he merely united them under one person -- himself. He was consul, tribune, chief priest of the civic religion and the public censor. He ruled by personal prestige
Augustus is arguably the single most important figure in Roman history. In the course of his long and spectacular career, he put an end to the advancing decay of the Republic and established a new basis for Roman government that was to stand. Augustus also reformed and refined the administration of the Roman Empire in many respects. In the domestic sphere, the senate had moved from being the chief organ of the state to being a subordinate entity, an assemblage of administrators at the disposal of Augustus.
