Pax

From a “ remarkably gifted historian” (New York Times), the definitive account of the golden age of Rome -- 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.