Final answer:
Rome was led by the position of emperor during the time Augustus was in Capri. The political system known as the Principate began with Augustus, who was granted wide-ranging powers and held titles like Princeps Senatus and Pontifex Maximus. The Senate, while still influential, essentially ratified the emperor's decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
While in Capri, Rome was led by what is known as the Principate, a political order established during the reign of Augustus. This period began after Octavian, who was later known as Augustus, was granted wide-ranging powers by the Senate, becoming the first Roman emperor. Though the traditional republican offices like consuls and praetors continued to exist, the emperor held the true power, shaping the administrative and military aspects of the empire.
As Augustus, Octavian held multiple titles such as the Princeps Senatus (leader of the Senate), and was also recognized with the religious title of Pontifex Maximus (Chief Priest) of Rome. His rule marked the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire, characterized by an emperor at the top of the social hierarchy who wielded supreme power.
The Senate played a pivotal role during this time, having transformed from a body advising elected consuls in the Republic, to one that largely ratified the emperor's decisions in the Empire. Augustus's leadership established a precedent for the emperors that followed, where the perceived divinity of the emperor strengthened his authority and positioned him at the very top of the Roman social and political order.