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Why Does Augustus List So Many Of His Economic Expenditures?

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Why Does Augustus List So Many Of His Economic Expenditures?
gustus established himself as the emperor through his military, religious, and political power. In this quote from deed three it can be seen that Augustus has obtained military strength fit for an emperor. “I waged many wars throughout the whole world by land and sea, both civil and foreign, and when victorious I spared all citizens who sought pardon... About 500,000 Roman soldiers were under military oath to me.” In the religious sphere, Augustus was elected pontifex maximus or head of priest. This can be drawn from deed ten where Augustus says “I declined to become the pontifex maximus in place of a colleague while he was still alive, when the people offered me the priesthood, which my father had held. A few years later, in the consulship of Publius Sulpicius and Gaius Valgius, I accepted this priesthood, when death removed the man who had taken possession of it at a time of civil disturbance;” Augustus was a political mastermind. His private funding of state projects and shows of strength enforced his powerful image. Deeds twenty through twenty-three focus on these politicly advantageous gifts. 2: Why does Augustus list so many of his economic expenditures? How are these “deeds?” …show more content…
He did this to remind the people what he had done for them. These are deeds because they are good works he completed. In deed fifteen, he records his payment to the Roman plebs. “To the Roman plebs I paid 300 sesterces apiece in accordance with the will of my father.” In this instance, there is an additional reason for recording his expense. This reason is to prove his loyalty to his late father. There are several other supplementary reasons for financial recording. These are to display his generosity towards his army and people through funding things such as the Soldier's bonus fund and temple repair

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