Final answer:
The potency of oratory during the Augustan age declined due to the transition to a more autocratic political system under Augustus, a shift in public interests towards entertainment, and the influence of Greek culture on the Roman education of rhetoric.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decline in the potency of oratory during the Augustan age can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the political landscape of Rome had shifted significantly. Under Augustus, there was a conscious attempt to revive old Roman virtues and simplicity, including traditional Roman dress and public decorum. The political system evolved from a republic with a relatively active Senate to a more autocratic regime under Augustus, who wielded substantial power. This diminished the role and impact of public debate and rhetorical speech, which had been pivotal in the republican system where leaders had to persuade their peers. Furthermore, the Roman education system formalized the study of rhetoric, focusing on imitating past speakers rather than creating passionate orators capable of influencing politics directly.
The influence of entertainment such as chariot races and gladiatorial games also played a role in diverting public interest away from the serious political matters often addressed in rhetorical speeches. Additionally, the growing influence of Greek culture brought in a more sophisticated form of rhetoric, prompting Romans to adopt, and yet also resist, the Greek proficiency with language, potentially leading to a less effective form of oration. This tension may have further diluted the forceful, passionate appeals that characterized earlier Roman oratory.
Moreover, public speech became less impactful due to the changing public sensibilities and the consolidation of power. Leaders like Augustus sought more controlled and unified impressions of governance rather than the often combative and divisive nature of public oratory. Thus, the combination of a more autocratic political system under Augustus, the shift in public interests, and the formalization and Hellenization of rhetorical education led to the decline of oratory's direct influence on public life during the Augustan era.