Why can't I build anything in these towns?

I'm early in the Julii campaign (don't play as often as I'd like) and I've noticed that in the first few towns I've conquered from the Gauls, there are no buildings available in the construction tab. When I ask Victoria what to build, she says something like, "It would not be a good idea to contruct anything at this time. Sometimes the best strategy is to do nothing." I've held these towns for quite a few turns now, and I still can't build anything there. Any idea why that is?

Have you built everything available at that government building level, but your town isn't large enough to build a new government building?

From memory I have had a couple of provinces like this that were quite difficult to advance, I ended up using forced peasant movement to deal with them.

I don't think I've built anything since I conquered these towns, there hasn't been anything available to build in them.

Did you exterminate the populace of these towns when you took over? If so, the population likely has not reached sufficient levels to support the next government building. Even if you merely occupied the settlement, the Gauls may have built everything that could be built given the current infrastructure. Also, have you torn down the indigenous temple and build a replacement?

No, I didn't tear down any existing buildings. When I get home tonight I'll check and see if there's a temple, and what the populations of these two towns are. Thanks for the advice.

You already have all the buildings available to that poupulation level. You'll need to grow to the next level before more become available. Can take a long time in some places. The peasant trick mentioned above is one way to speed things up. Or, if you have a governor in the town, enslave newly conquered cities and he'll get some pop. to add to his base.

Also check your' tax level; higher tax levels = less growth so you never get to the next building level.

Yes, it looks like I need to get my population up, but I didn't know tax levels affected this. I've been keeping the tax rate at very high if my public order is over %100, just for the income. I'll have to take a second look at that in some of my towns. Thanks.

When you get capped like this, do enslaving or peasant migration exploit.

Also, make sure that the temples are your own. This is a good time to rip down foreign temples and build your own as you have free construction time.

Note: never rip down a Sacred Circle of Epona when Romans. This can upgrade to Pantheon of Epona which is your own and gives +5 xp.