Augustus, as the first emperor of Rome, established a political system that would influence countless later empires and shape global history. He oversees the transition from the Roman Republic to the Empire, setting a template that future emperors follow for the next 500 to 1500 years, as they all aspire to be like him, adopting his titles such as 'Caesar Augustus' and 'Imperator'.

Charlemagne is crowned by the Pope on Christmas Day in 800 AD as 'Charles Augustus, Emperor of the Romans', reflecting the powerful image of Augustus that persists through history.

The titles of rulers like Czars in Russia and the term 'Emperor' derive from Augustus, illustrating his lasting influence on political nomenclature and authority.

Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor, expressed confusion about Christians in a letter to Emperor Trajan, indicating that even educated Romans had little understanding of Christianity at that time, viewing it as a fringe movement.

Marcus Agrippa, Augustus's right-hand man, was a talented general, admiral, and builder who played a crucial role in Augustus's rise to power and the rebuilding of Rome.

The conflict between Romans and Christians arose from differing views on loyalty to the emperor, where Romans saw it as a patriotic act to pray for the emperor, while Christians viewed it as worshiping another god.

Octavian, Caesar's grandnephew, emerged as a key player in the power struggle following Caesar's assassination, eventually becoming the first emperor of Rome.

The rise of monotheistic religions marks a significant shift in mentality, contrasting the ancient belief in multiple legitimate gods, which shaped the cultural landscape of the Roman Empire. Before 300 AD, Romans practiced a form of pagan polytheism where multiple gods were worshipped without a central religious authority, making religion an auxiliary aspect of life rather than a driving force.

Augustus's political savvy and manipulation of image and propaganda were key to his influence, even if he wasn't necessarily a great human being.