A short course on the beginnings of the Roman Empire and its ascent to power and influence in the world. The tale of how the Roman Empire came to be is a complicated one that encompasses several different causes. The military conquest of new territory, political intrigue, and the incorporation of other cultures. Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome. He presided over the transition of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire in the year 27 BC, and it was he who drove this change. Augustus had the opportunity to consolidate his hold on power. He began by laying the foundation for a stable administration during this period. Since there was no political unrest, the empire extended its borders through military conquest. The Roman Empire, which at one point included a significant portion of the basin of the Mediterranean Sea. The Roman Empire rose to prominence as the preeminent political and cultural power in the ancient world.