Augustus Caesar – or Octavian as he was known as a young man – was the founder of the great Roman Empire. Nominated by his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, as his heir, he nevertheless had to struggle for supremacy over his uncle’s murderers before he became sole ruler of the Roman world, after the defeat of Antony. Dr. Earl discusses Octavian’s background and his family history and described the society in which he lived, in an attempt to evaluate the emperor’s character and assess the influences which affected him most.
The book goes on to discuss the social and political implications which can be drawn from Octavian’s rise to power and to show why and how he was able to do to power and so show why and how he was able to do what he did. After the constitutional settlements of 27 B.C. and 23 B.C., by which Augustus (the title he has by now been given) retained control of the military forces and of foreign affairs with supervisory powers over the machinery of government, he began to increase the efficiency of the armies and of provincial government by trying to restore the old stands of Roman morality.
Dr. Earl gives a brilliant account of the political organization and social conditions under Augustan rule, in Rome itself as well as in the provinces, and discusses the questions raised by Augustus “view of “the Restoration of the Republic”; he described the attitude of various sections of society, such as the literary men, to Augustus ’new order, and compare it with the old order. The book also deal with new religious cults, emperor worship as well as popular religion and the mystery cults in the Roman Empire.
Augustus also achieved a great deal as patron of the arts and id much to beautify Rome as well as building new cities in the provinces and the photographs, many taken specially for the book, illustrate his profound impact on the Roman world of 2,000 year ago.
Dr. Earl has written an impressive book which will go a long way towards clarifying the enigmatic personality of Augustus – and through him of his age. It will bring to life one of the “golden ages” of history, which had been regarded ever since as a time when all men prospered, and virtue flourished. Dr. Earl’s text, together with the photographs which form an integral part of the book gives this remote, but enormous fascinating world a reality that has been obscured by the myth, and at the same time provides an important scholarly record which will be invaluable to all students of the period.
84 plates, of which 25 are in colour

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