Was Augustus ultimately a visionary leader or a tyrant?

Was Augustus Rome's greatest leader or a clever tyrant? He brought peace and built magnificent structures, but he also ended the Republic and controlled everything. To understand him, we need to look at different parts of his rule. In this activity, you will become an expert on one piece of the puzzle.

Your class will be divided into four expert groups. Each group will investigate one aspect of Augustus's reign. Your task is to research and answer three key questions about your topic on a single shared document or presentation slide.

Step 1: Group Assignment (2 minutes)

Your teacher will assign you to one of these four groups:

• Group 1: The Power Grab (How Augustus Came to Power)

• Group 2: The Rulebook (Augustus's Reforms)

• Group 3: Expanding the Empire (Augustus's Foreign Policy)

• Group 4: The Spin Doctors (Augustus's Relationship with Poets)

Step 2: Research & Answer (25 minutes)

Use the resources below to find the answers to your group's three questions. Work together to write clear, simple answers in your own words.

Group 1: The Power Grab

Topic: How Augustus Came to Power

Your 3 Questions:

1. What was the Second Triumvirate, and what happened to it?

2. How did the Battle of Actium make Augustus the most powerful man in Rome?

3. Why did he call himself "First Citizen" instead of "king" or "emperor"?

Resources:

• Britannica: The Second Triumvirate

• https://trizioeditore.it/en/blogs/notizie/la-battaglia-di-azio?srsltid=AfmBOopFDb5u8oczd3aR7aHqJdB5kBFJ-MxX_UuT8kM4uA_QZ02gXlhk

• https://www.academuseducation.co.uk/post/augustus-rise-to-power

Group 2: The Rulebook

Topic: Augustus's Reforms

Your 3 Questions:

1. What was the Pax Romana ("Roman Peace")?

2. Name two practical reforms Augustus created to improve life in Rome (like police or firemen).

3. What were his "moral laws," and why were they controversial?

Resources:

• Ancient History Encyclopedia: Pax Romana

• https://www.worldhistory.org/article/905/reforms-of-augustus/

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lex_Julia

Group 3: Expanding the Empire

Topic: Augustus's Foreign Policy

Your 3 Questions:

1. In general, did Augustus try to expand the empire or make its borders stronger and more secure?

2. What was the disaster in the Teutoburg Forest, and why was it so important?

3. Overall, was his foreign policy a success or a failure?

Resources:

• https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15518/map-of-the-provinces-of-the-roman-empire-under-aug/

• https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-the-Teutoburg-Forest

• Britannica: Augustus's Military Campaigns

Group 4: The Spin Doctors

Topic: Augustus's Relationship with Poets

Your 3 Questions:

1. Who was Virgil, and how did his epic poem, the Aeneid, make Augustus look good?

2. How was the poet Ovid's fate different from Virgil's? What happened to him?

3. Why did Augustus spend money to support poets? Was it for art or for propaganda?

Resources:

• https://embed.la.utexas.edu/txlatin/2019/10/14/vergils-aeneid-introduction/

• https://www2.classics.upenn.edu/myth/php/remyth/index.php?page=maecenas

• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ovid-Roman-poet/Works

Step 3: Prepare to Share (3 minutes)

Be ready to share your answers with the class. You can have one person from your group read them out loud.

You will be evaluated as a group. Here’s what you need to do:

By looking at power, reforms, war, and propaganda, you've seen the different sides of Augustus. He was a complicated leader who used many tools to build his empire. Now, think about this: Do you think modern leaders use similar strategies today? The way power is gained and kept might not be so different after all.