Final answer:
The Roman Empire under Augustus operated as a monarchy or an empire, despite his attempts to maintain the facade of a republic. His effective rule as 'de facto emperor' marked a shift from the power dynamics of the preceding Roman Republic. His reign ushered in the Pax Romana, indicating the relative effectiveness of this monarchical structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The form of government that ruled the Roman Empire after the rise of Augustus was Monarchy. Despite Augustus' claim of restoring the republic, in reality, his power was absolute, pragmatically creating a monarchy or an empire. He referred to his government as the principate, which effectively disguised his role as de facto emperor. Although attempting to respect the forms and traditions of the republican government, his rule represented a distinct break from the power structure of the preceding Roman Republic.
Under Augustus, meaningful political power resided in the emperor and the structure of the republic was, for the most part, a facade. This transformation from a republic to a monarchy signified a crucial shift in Roman governance that suggested a preference for the stability that a singular, central figure could provide over the turbulent political maneuverings of a republic.
The rule of Augustus marked a period of relative peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana or Roman Peace, a testament to the effectiveness of the newly formed monarchy which was in essence a form of empire ruling.
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