Who is Augustus from The Ancient City: Life in Classical Athens & Rome and what is their importance?

Augustus was one of the greatest emperors in Roman history. One of the first buildings Augustus ordered to be constructed was his forum, a construction built to celebrate the victory over Julius Caesar's assassins. He later shows an interest in the arts when he orders the building of the Theatre of Marcellus. Although Augustus is renowned for the splendid buildings and monuments built during his reign, his own residence, while elegant, is considered rather modest.

Augustus is described as an ambitious, determined man. While Emperor, he seized all political powers he deemed necessary to rule, and he proved himself to be a ruler that literally had his fingers in "everything." He set the number of senators at 600 and declared that women of 20 and men of 25 who remained unmarried should be penalized. He also declared that prisoners of war should be made to serve as slaves. When the citizens of Rome were victims of an above average incidence of illness and disease, he awarded citizenship to foreign doctors who willing to set up practices in Rome.