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Pax : war and peace in Rome's golden age / Tom Holland.

by Holland, Tom.

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Basic Books, 2023.

Political stability -- Rome -- History.

Rome -- History -- Empire, 30 B.C.-284 A.D.

Rome -- History.

Rome -- Civilization.

9780465093533 (hc.)

Alternate title:

War and peace in Rome's golden age

xx, 452 p. : col. ill. ; 25 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 403-432) and index.

"The definitive history of Rome's golden age -- an ultimate superpower at the pinnacle of its greatness, The Pax Romana has long been shorthand for the empire's golden age. Stretching from Caledonia to Arabia, Rome ruled over a quarter of the world's population. It was the wealthiest and most formidable state in the history of humankind. 'Pax' is a captivating narrative history of Rome at the height of its power. From the gilded capital to realms beyond the frontier, historian Tom Holland shows ancient Rome in all its glory: Nero's downfall, the destruction of Jerusalem and Pompeii, the building of the Colosseum and Hadrian's Wall, the conquests of Trajan. Vividly sketching the lives of Romans both ordinary and spectacular, from slaves to emperors, Holland shows that Roman peace was the fruit of unprecedented military violence. A stunning portrait of Rome's glory days, this is the epic history of the Pax Romana."--From publisher.

"Historian Holland (Dominion) provides a comprehensive chronicle of the latter half of the Pax Romana, a common shorthand for a long period of stability in the Western world from 27 BCE to 180 CE, when the Roman Empire ruled over a quarter of the world's population. Beginning with the death of Nero and the tumultuous year 69 CE when four different emperors ruled in succession, Holland demonstrates how 'the very quality that had originally won them their empire' and enabled ancient Romans to ensure the stability of the Pax -- that is, 'their aptitude for killing' -- also threatened to be the empire's undoing. Vespasian (the final of the four emperors) rebuilt Rome after it was damaged in the civil conflict of 69 CE. His successor Titus quelled the Judean uprising. The reign of the megalomanic Domitian, Titus's successor, was rife with military conflicts across the empire, especially in Britain and the Balkans. Several years of struggle ensued until Trajan became emperor, ushering in nearly two decades of military conquest in the modern-day Middle East. His successor, Hadrian, toured the Roman world, settling numerous conflicts in the far reaches of the empire. Throughout his meticulous narrative, Holland demonstrates how the stability of the so-called peace was maintained through martial violence both in Rome and abroad. Roman history buffs will want to take a look."--Publishers Weekly.

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