Pax Romana, Latin for "the Roman peace" (sometimes Pax Augusta), was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire between 27 BC and AD 180. Augustus Caesar led Rome into the moderation of Pax Romana, and his successors for the most part imitated his policy. This period ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius, which is considered the start of the decline of the Roman Empire.
Contents |
Characteristics
"Pax Romana" is an idea first presented by Edward Gibbon in the first chapter of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. He refers to a period of "moderation" initiated by Augustus and imitated by his successors. Conquest became less beneficial and the Emperors became content with the borders of the Empire. Generals like Germanicus, Suetonius Paulinus, Agricola, and Corbulo were checked and recalled by the Emperors during their victories. Gibbon lists three exceptions to the "moderation" policy between Augustus and Marcus Aurelius - the conquest of Britannia under Claudius, the conquest of Dacia under Trajan and Trajan's "dangerous" invasion of the east. During this time the Romans still fought a consistent number of wars against neighboring states and tribes, most notably the Germanic tribes and Persians. There was also still political unrest among the noble families. Nonetheless, the Pax Romana was an era of relative tranquility in which Rome endured neither major civil wars, such as the perpetual bloodshed of the third century AD, nor serious invasions, such as those of the Second Punic War three centuries prior.
This period is considered to have lasted from 27 BC, when Augustus Caesar declared an end to the great Roman civil wars of the first century, until either AD 180 , when emperor Marcus Aurelius died, or the death of his son, Commodus, in AD 192 . It was a time in which Roman commerce thrived, unhampered by pirates or marauding enemy troops. It was not always peaceful; rebellions frequently appeared, but were quelled. For example, British tribes (Queen Boudica and the Iceni) rebelled against Roman rule in AD 60 and at least 150,000 people lost their lives, a figure which does not include the massacre and starvation after the British defeat. However, this figure must be taken with some caution since evidence would suggest that it is somewhat exaggerated. Additionally, both border skirmishes and Roman wars of conquest happened during this period. Trajan embarked on a series of campaigns against the Parthians during his reign and Marcus Aurelius spent almost the entire last decade of his rule defending the frontiers of the Empire. Indeed, one might argue that Rome was constantly involved in some conflict or another during the "Pax Romana." However, the interior provinces remained largely untouched by warfare, thus giving the empire the semblance of peace.
Notes
- The Ara Pacis, or "Altar of peace" was erected for Augustus at the expense of the Roman Senate to celebrate the era of 'Augustan' peace.
- The Roman city Pax Iuliae ("Peace of the gens Julia") is today's Beja, Portugal.
See also
- Pax Americana
- Pax Britannica
- Pax Europeana
- Pax Germanica
- Pax Hispanica
- Pax Minoica
- Pax Mongolica
- Pax Ottomana
- Pax Sinica
- Pax Syriana
