What effects did augustu's rule have on life throughout the Mediterranean?

Answer 1

new roads buildings and aqueducts

Answer 2

By establishing absolute rule by the emperor, Augustus ensured that the ruler had a tight grip on the central government and Roman politics. The central government of the Late Republic had lost control over the provinces (conquered territories) whose governors treated them as their personal fiefs. Augustus also created an efficient imperial administration controlled by the emperor. He reigned in on corruption, which in the Late Republic had become rampant. He created paid professionals who were imperial employees as tax collectors in the provinces. During the Republic this job was tendered to private individuals who practiced "tax farming," harsh tax collection to raise more money that required by the state to line one's pockets. This created an unnecessary burden on the provincials, unfairness and a great deal of resentment. Augustus also ensured that taxation levels would not be detrimental to the economy.

The reforms of Augustus created the conditions for what historians have called the Pax Romana, a 207-year period relative political stability in the Roman Empire. This stability was the basis of the empire being tied together. It enabled the integration of the provinces into an empire which became a cohesive political and economic unit and developed thriving trading networks which created prosperity.

Augustus was very active in promoting trade. He created a framework favourable to it and promoted an increase in agricultural and manufacturing production so that more goods could be traded. The clearest example was Egypt, which became the breadbasket of the empire. Privatization of ownership of land and workshops was promoted to increase production and trade. Canals in disrepair were repaired and new ones were built to increase irrigation and the amount of cultivable land. Taxation was lowered (under the previous regime of the Ptolemies it was too high). The use of coins increased monetisation and contributed to an increase in production and trade.

The Roman government actively encouraged private enterprise and trade throughout the empire. Low tax rates favoured private entrepreneurs. The poorer people gained their livelihood as tenants of wealthy private landlords, state-owned land or property belonging to the emperor, and they were relatively much more heavily burdened by rentals, which tended to remain at a fairly high level.

The Roman currency created an empire-wide means of exchange which helped the development of thriving trading networks throughout the empire. The building on new roads, bridges and ports also helped this. Trade promoted economic and cultural interchange between the peoples of the provinces, their integration into the imperial system and greater cultural homogeneity.

Augustus also promoted trade beyond the empire. Egypt became the base for trade with Ethiopia and the seaborne trade with India via the Red Sea. Syria and Turkey were the endpoint of the Silk Road to China via Persia.