--- title: Pax Romana author: Donald L. Wasson source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Pax_Romana/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2023-05-07 --- # Pax Romana _Authored by [Donald L. Wasson](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/DWasson/)_ The Pax Romana ([Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) Peace) was a period of relative peace and stability across the [Roman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Empire/) which lasted for over 200 years, beginning with the reign of [Augustus](https://www.worldhistory.org/augustus/) (27 BCE - 14 CE). The aim of Augustus and his successors was to guarantee [law](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/law/), order, and security within the [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/), even if this meant separating it from the rest of the world and defending, or even expanding, its borders through military intervention and [conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/). Throughout the existence of both the [Roman Republic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Republic/) and Empire, the borders of [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) continually expanded. Besides the initial territorial conquests after the [Punic Wars](https://www.worldhistory.org/Punic_Wars/), the eternal [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) added land in the Balkans, Middle East, and North [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/). Later, they would move westward into [Gaul](https://www.worldhistory.org/gaul/), Spain and northward into Germany and [Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Britain/). Through the triumphs of [Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/caesar/), Augustus, [Claudius](https://www.worldhistory.org/claudius/), and [Marcus Aurelius](https://www.worldhistory.org/Marcus_Aurelius/), Rome became one of largest empires that had ever existed, greater than that of [Persia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Persia/), [Assyria](https://www.worldhistory.org/assyria/), and even challenging that of [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/). However, a territory that large caused many difficulties, many of them costly - riots, rebellions and insurrections were rampant. The solution to many of these problems came under the astute leadership of Emperor Augustus - it was called the Pax Romana or Roman Peace. ### Augustus Becomes Emperor The [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) of the “dictator for life” [Julius Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/Julius_Caesar/) on the Ides of March 44 BCE brought chaos to the Republic. Attempts to revive the old triumvirate ultimately failed. [Octavian](https://www.worldhistory.org/augustus/), the young adopted son of Caesar, hunted down his “father's” assassins and defeated the other claimants to the throne ([Mark Antony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mark_Antony/) and Marcus Amelius Lepidus), securing for himself the leadership of Rome and so an empire was born. Augustus, as he would now be known, would usher in an unprecedented era of prosperity and stability; the disorder of the previous years was wiped away. The [Roman Senate](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Senate/) granted Augustus almost unlimited powers, bringing reform to both the city and provinces. He became the “first citizen” or *princeps,* thus initiating the principate. The Senate granted him and his successors certain powers for life: namely *imperium maius*, extreme authority over the provincial governors, and *tribunicia potestas* or [tribune](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tribune/) of the plebs, the authority to call an assembly of the people to enact laws. With these newly generated powers, he could veto the actions of the magistrates and, in order to control those around him, he controlled the imperial patronage. His reign would bring peace and security to both politics and trade - something that many Romans, in the city as well as in the provinces, had long desired. However, peace would come at a steep price. This Augustan Peace, a peace that brought relative quiet, would last for almost two [hundred years](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Hundred_Years/). ### The Empire Expands While the Rome Augustus inherited was vast by any definition of the word, he chose to aggressively add even more territory with expansion and conquest in all directions, especially westward and along the Rhine. Likewise, these new provinces, as well as those that had been acquired during the Republic, were forced to affirm their allegiance to Rome and recognize Roman authority. Augustus would return home from Spain and Gaul a hero, and to symbolize this success, the Senate commissioned, in July of 13 BCE, the erection on the Campus Martius of the Ara Pacis Augustus or the Altar of Augustan Peace - what would be called the foremost display of Augustan art. Dedicated on January 1, 9 BCE, it contained sculptured reliefs, a religious mural depicting the imperial family, and a frieze portraying various Roman values: peace, harmony, duty, decency and wealth - *pax*, *concordia*, *pietas*, *humanitas* and *copia*. [ ![Map of the Provinces of the Roman Empire under Augustus](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/15518.png?v=1777068334-1749633715) Map of the Provinces of the Roman Empire under Augustus Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15518/map-of-the-provinces-of-the-roman-empire-under-aug/ "Map of the Provinces of the Roman Empire under Augustus")### Augustus Manages Rome & the Empire To many in and around Rome, the new emperor appeared to be a micromanager, fully utilizing all of the powers he had been granted. Distrusting the independence of the provincial governors or proconsuls, he travelled the empire extensively, and with him went a new army (he commanded 23 legions), a professional army. To maintain their loyalty he paid them well in both money and land (something his successors followed) with each and every man swearing an oath to support and protect the emperor. With an increased army, revolts - like those in Gaul or along the northern borders - were easily quelled. And, to safeguard himself and prevent his own Ides of March, Augustus created his own bodyguard the [Praetorian Guard](https://www.worldhistory.org/Praetorian_Guard/). The ever-growing empire and expanded army took a toll on the empire's limited treasury. To solve this problem Augustus ordered a complete census of the resources in all of the provinces as well as among its citizenry, creating a “framework for assessment” to impose taxes. The aim was not only to maintain internal order but also to extract resources through taxation even though these demands were often made on limited resources. And to safeguard the tax revenue from possibly unscrupulous governors, Augustus centralized the treasury on the Capitol in Rome. Although there was an occasional protest, many believe that his close supervision of the both the city and provinces was justified, and while some people - primarily slaves and freedmen who worked the land — were excluded from any political participation, the empire remained relatively free of civil conflict. Even the seas were cleared of pirates, enabling the expansion of trade. New roads - over fifty thousand miles of them - made communication easier. Rome was made great again. One place that benefitted most from the Pax Romana was the city of Rome itself. Among his many reforms, Augustus provided for protection against possible fire (a common Roman condition), famine, and flood (the Tiber was prone to overflow its banks). He supervised the city's grain supply, water, and roads which had been a function of the aediles. The city police force was enlarged to quell riots and crime in city. He made attempts to restore traditional moral values such as rebuilding decaying temples. Although the Senate still served only as advisory body, he reduced its number and although the popular assemblies approved of his reforms, they soon became obsolete, for Augustus was the law. ### A Lasting Peace Regardless as it might appear, the Roman people understood and valued the peace and security that Augustus's new order brought to the empire. To them he became a [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/), and from this worship emerged the Imperial Cult. Henceforth, an emperor would (with only a few exceptions) be deified after his death. Although there still existed an occasional rebellion (Christians would oppose the Cult, for example), the empire remained largely at peace. The emperors who followed Augustus maintained the Augustan Peace by reducing conflict, expanding the borders, and maintaining harmony at home. However, the legions of Rome were not always so warmly received, and to those who resisted, the cost of peace was high. In his *On Britain and Germany,* the historian [Tacitus](https://www.worldhistory.org/tacitus/), who lived in the 1st century CE, wrote about the Roman conquest of Britain. He quoted Calgacus, a [Briton](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ancient_Britain/) leader, addressing his men, > We, the choice flower of Britain, were treasured in her most secret places. Out of sight of subject shores, we kept even our eyes free from the defilement of tyranny…to-day the boundary of Britain is exposed; beyond us lies no nation, nothing but waves and rocks and the Romans, more deadly still than they, for you find in them an arrogance which no reasonable submission can elude. Calgacus continued, “They are unique in being as violently tempted to attack the poor as the wealthy. Robbery, butchery, rapine, the liars call Empire; they create desolation and call it peace.” Despite these challenges, the Pax Romana would continue through the years, often despite the arrogance and inabilities of some of Augustus's successors. Emperor Claudius would finally succeed in Britain. [Vespasian](https://www.worldhistory.org/Vespasian/) and his son [Titus](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Titus/) would secure the Middle East; however, Emperor [Hadrian](https://www.worldhistory.org/hadrian/) (117 – 138 CE) would call an end to expansion and fix the northern borders by building a [wall](https://www.worldhistory.org/wall/) and fortifications in Britain and along the Rhine. In the late 3rd century CE, [plague](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/plague/) and invasions devastated the empire, and cracks began to appear. After the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 CE and the appearance of his heir Emperor [Commodus](https://www.worldhistory.org/commodus/), the concept of Pax Romana, after almost two hundred years, became an afterthought. With the demise of the Republic, the government was in ruin. Emperor Augustus had gained political and military control and built an empire. He secured the borders, stabilized the [economy](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/economy/), and brought a sense of peace. Augustus was quoted as saying, “I found a city of brick and left it one of marble.” - this quote could easily be expanded to include the entire empire. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Baker, S. *Ancient Rome.* BBC Books, 2006.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1846072840/) - [Goldsworthy, A. *Augustus.* Yale University Press, 2014.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0300178727/) - [Heather, P. *The Fall of the Roman Empire.* Oxford University Press, 2006.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0195325419/) - [Hornblower, S. *The Oxford Classical Dictionary.* Oxford University Press, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199545561/) - [Kerrigan, M. *A Dark History.* Metro Books, 2011.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1435102088/) - [Rodgers, N. *Roman Empire.* Metro Books, 2008.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1435104552/) - [Roman Emperor](https://www.ancient.eu "Roman Emperor"), accessed 15 May 2020. - [Sommer, M. *The Complete Roman Emperor.* Thames & Hudson, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500251673/) - [Tacitus. *ON BRITAIN AND GERMANY.* Penguin, 1964.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B000X1NX6Y/) ## About the Author Donald has taught Ancient, Medieval and U.S. History at Lincoln College (Normal, Illinois)and has always been and will always be a student of history, ever since learning about Alexander the Great. He is eager to pass knowledge on to his students. ## Timeline - **27 BCE - 14 CE**: Reign of [Augustus](https://www.worldhistory.org/augustus/) [Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/caesar/). [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/) and the [Agora](https://www.worldhistory.org/agora/) restored. ## Cite This Work ### APA Wasson, D. L. (2015, December 08). Pax Romana. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Pax\_Romana/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pax_Romana/) ### Chicago Wasson, Donald L.. "Pax Romana." *World History Encyclopedia*, December 08, 2015. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Pax\_Romana/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pax_Romana/). ### MLA Wasson, Donald L.. "Pax Romana." *World History Encyclopedia*, 08 Dec 2015, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Pax\_Romana/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pax_Romana/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Donald L. Wasson](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/DWasson/ "User Page: Donald L. Wasson"), published on 08 December 2015. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.