Caesar Augustus is widely regarded as the greatest emperor of Rome. What if, within a few years of his death, he turned Rome back over to the people, and retired from public life? Perhaps it happened because of some discussion with a philosopher, a life changing event, or reading the romantic accounts of the glory of popular rule. It may stretch plausibility for one of these things to happen, but if it did, how would history change? Would Rome be better off and last centuries longer? Or would it make little difference in the end?