Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World

by Adrian Goldsworthy

Overview

A groundbreaking and comprehensive history of the Roman Peace from one of the leading historians of the ancient world

Best-selling author Adrian Goldsworthy turns his attention to the Pax Romana, the famous peace and prosperity brought by the Roman Empire at its height in the first and second centuries AD. Yet the Romans were conquerors, imperialists who took by force a vast empire stretching from the Euphrates to the Atlantic coast. Ruthless, Romans won peace not through coexistence but through dominance; millions died and were enslaved during the creation of their empire.
 
Pax Romana examines how the Romans came to control so much of the world and asks whether traditionally favorable images of the Roman peace are true. Goldsworthy vividly recounts the rebellions of the conquered, examining why they broke out, why most failed, and how they became exceedingly rare. He reveals that hostility was just one reaction to the arrival of Rome and that from the outset, conquered peoples collaborated, formed alliances, and joined invaders, causing resistance movements to fade away.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780300230628
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Publication date:	08/22/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	528
Sales rank:	325,598
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Adrian Goldsworthy is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including biographies of Julius Caesar and Augustus. He lectures widely and consults on historical documentaries for the History Channel, National Geographic, and the BBC. He lives in the UK.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements xi

List of Maps xiii

Preface - Living In Peace 1

Introduction - A Glory Greater Than War 9

The Pax Romana 9

Part 1 Republic

I The Rise of Rome 21

Origins 21

The Republic 27

Overseas 31

II War 37

Massacre 37

Riches and Reputation - The Drive to Empire 45

Faith and Ruthlessness 58

III Friends and Rivals 63

AMICI - The Friends of the Romans 63

'All Gaul is Divided into Three Parts' - Caesar's Intervention 70

Allies and Enemies 77

Resisting Rome 82

IV Traders and Settlers 87

Civis Romanus Sum - Romans Abroad 87

Markets and Exchange 93

Roman and Native 99

V 'How Much Did You Make?' - Government 107

Proconsuls 107

Cilicia 113

Making Monet 119

VI Provincials and Kings 133

'At Least They Think They Have Self-Government' 133

Dealing with Rome 139

Peace and its Price 149

Part 2 Principate

VII Emperors 161

Power Without Limit 168

Peace and War 168

Limits 173

VIII Rebellion 187

'Must Everyone Accept Servitude?' 187

The Queen 190

Taxes and Ill-Treatment 198

Winning and Losing a Province 205

A Stronger Sense of Identity? 212

IX Resistance, Rioting and Robbery 217

'Peaceful and Quiet' 217

Kings and Bad Neighbours 221

Murder, Plunder and Politics 235

X Imperial Governors 245

'Firmness and Diligence' 245

Bithynia and Pontus - Waste, Corruption and Rivalries 250

Evil Men 266

XI Life Under Roman Rule 277

'Civilization' and 'Enslavement' 277

Sheep and Shepherds, Romans and Natives 289

Insiders and Outsiders 298

XII The Army and the Frontiers 309

'A Great Circle of Camps' 309

The Other Side of the Hill 327

Attack and Defence 335

XIII Garrisons and Raids 345

'Clandestine Crossings' 345

Garrisons, Forts and Walls 351

The Anatomy of a Raid 365

Fear, Reputation and Dominance 379

XIV Beyond the Pax Romana 383

Outside 383

Trade and Treaties 389

Civil War and Peace 400

Conclusion - Peace and War 409

Chronology 417

Glossary 421

Abbreviations 431

Bibliography 433

Notes 453

Index 497

Interviews

Why this book?
 
Peace is always a rare and precious thing and this makes the “Roman Peace” all the more remarkable, and I wanted to understand how it came about. I wanted also to understand what the Roman Empire meant to the people who lived in it. What was it like for the other peoples in the ancient world who found themselves living next to the Roman Empire, or were incorporated into it, whether by force or choice? It is simplistic to demonize empires—just as it once was to celebrate them uncritically—and there is a danger of turning conquered peoples into passive and virtuous victims of imperialist aggression. The truth is more complicated, and looking at Roman power from the viewpoint of Romans and outsiders provides many relevant insights to our own world.

But wasn’t "Pax Romana" the peace imposed by the victors, whose conceit was that they were bringing civilization to barbarians?

The Romans fought a lot of wars, and never granted other peoples equal status. Other kingdoms and states were either allies or real or potential enemies. Peace made Rome and its allies safe. Only once they were well on their way to establishing a large and permanent empire did the Romans begin to talk of a duty to bring peace, order, and the rule of law to a wider world. This was not achieved solely or even primarily by force. People wanted to be Roman. Peace became a reality, even if imperfect.

Praise for Caesar:

"This book makes and insightfully explains the leap from Caesar the soldier and general to Caesar the statesman and nation builder. It's better than any book I've ever read on him, and more incisive."—Wall Street Journal

"An authoritative and exciting portrait not only of Caesar but of the complex society in which he lived."—Steven Coates, New York Times Book Review

Editorial Reviews

Goldsworthy brings a wonderful vitality to his subject. . . . The reader is treated to an enthralling view of a highly complex system of governance [in which] Goldsworthy gives statecraft its proper emphasis.”—Gerard DeGroot, Times (UK)

“The reign of Augustus—when the Romans learned to stop worrying and love the emperors—is the center of Adrian Goldsworthy’s powerful reassessment of Roman imperialism. Goldsworthy is well known for his books on the Roman army and on Roman warfare and is the author of vivid biographies of some of Rome’s greatest generals, so peace might seem a surprising topic for him. But Pax is not peace, or not quite peace as we know it. . . . The Roman peace was an unusual calm after the violence of prehistoric and classical societies. How calm it really was is difficult to say, but Pax Romana offers a measured answer for which we may be grateful.”—Greg Woolf, Wall Street Journal

“[Pax Romana] offers two cheers for imperialism, saluting the Romans for bringing peace and stability to the Mediterranean basin on a scale and duration not seen before or since. . . . Two lessons for today stand out in the book: First, it is hard to make and keep a peace. Second, the greatest threat to the Pax Romana came not from foreigners but from the internal power struggles of the Romans themselves.”—Thomas Ricks, New York Times Book Review

“Goldsworthy explores this epoch lucidly. . . . He shows how those long-ago warriors and politicians wound taut the strings that continue to vibrate in our national life.”—Richard Snow, Wall Street Journal, “What to Give: History Books”

“Engaging and consistently informative.”—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs

“Entirely compelling. . . . An engrossing account of how the Roman Empire grew and operated.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Monumental and highly engaging. . . . While his prose is clear and measured, Goldsworthy’s argument is pleasingly impassioned. . . . Goldsworthy’s achievement is to show that the alternative to Roman peace was often either unappealing or long forgotten. He has set Pax Romana in its proper context.”—Daisy Dunn, New Criterion

“Pax Romana examines a famous, yet little understood, time, and is an excellent read for anyone interested in ancient history.”—Diana Biller, B&N Reads

“A nuanced portrait [and] a fascinating work. . . . Readers interested in Roman history will find it remarkable.”—Tobias Mutter, Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review)

“Highly informative [and] a fun read. . . . Pax Romana is a guide to how the Romans preserved their empire for many centuries. It is a must-read for those interested in history and strategy.”—Tom Rogan, Washington Free Beacon

“By the end of this book . . . one has a clear idea of how Rome’s empire worked. There is no attempt to whitewash Rome into a benevolent and altruistic overlord. But the Romans were above all pragmatists. . . . So the Pax Romana strove for peace, content and prosperity, and succeeded to a remarkable degree. Not because of modern notions of morality, not out of philanthropy, but because it was the most efficient way to run an empire.”—Philip Matyszak, UNRV Roman Empire

“Concise yet filled with detail, Goldworthy’s study is a definitive work on the reality of the Pax Romana. He has written a book of sound scholarship that should appeal to readers interested in classical European and Roman history, as well as Jewish history and the history of early Christianity.”—Kevin Bezner, Christian Review

“An easily digestible survey of Rome’s empire that adds important context to a complex phenomenon.”—David Kite, Terre Haute Tribune Star

“An excellent book. . . . Goldsworthy’s account of the origins of the peace is first-rate. . . . Goldsworthy’s text is clear and concise, the subject matter well organized. . . . The fine maps are presented in context within the relevant passages rather than shoved to the back of the book. Students of Roman history will find Pax Romana especially valuable.”—Richard A. Gabriel, Military History

“A work entitled Pax Romana may suggest that the pre-eminent military historian of Rome, Adrian Goldsworthy, has gone soft. He has not. There is a great deal here about war and conquest. . . . Yet this study offers far more than straight military history. . . . Goldsworthy makes excellent use of anything from the Gospels to inscriptions and other archaeological remains in order to illustrate his claims. . . . A fine [book], elegantly written.”—Matthew Leigh, History Today

“Goldsworthy begins with the founding of Rome and continues for the next thousand or so years, up to the fall off the empire in the West and beyond. . . . A useful book and an easy read. . . . Highly recommended.”—Choice

“Graceful in prose, learned in lore, as comfortable with archaeological as with literary witness, and a master of anecdote and historical comparison, Goldsworthy points his reader to many instances where Roman rule succeeded by powerful protection, upright justice, and intermingled economic interest.”—J. E. Lendon, Weekly Standard

“The book succeeds admirably at its goal of communicating the complexities of Roman imperial history with great clarity and insight. Pax Romana is a well-crafted piece of historical writing that will certainly enlighten a wide audience.”—Michael J. Taylor, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

From the Publisher

“Engaging and consistently informative.”—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs

Foreign Affairs - Lawrence D. Freedman

“The best of [Goldsworthy’s] many excellent books on ancient Rome for its range and depth.”—Peter Jones, BBC History Magazine

BBC History Magazine - Peter Jones

“The reign of Augustus—when the Romans learned to stop worrying and love the emperors—is the center of Adrian Goldsworthy’s powerful reassessment of Roman imperialism. Goldsworthy is well known for his books on the Roman army and on Roman warfare and is the author of vivid biographies of some of Rome’s greatest generals, so peace might seem a surprising topic for him. But Pax is not peace, or not quite peace as we know it. . . . The Roman peace was an unusual calm after the violence of prehistoric and classical societies. How calm it really was is difficult to say, but Pax Romana offers a measured answer for which we may be grateful.”—Greg Woolf, Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal - Greg Woolf

“A nuanced portrait [and] a fascinating work. . . . Readers interested in Roman history will find it remarkable.”—Tobias Mutter, Shelf Awareness for Readers, starred review

Shelf Awareness for Readers - Tobias Mutter

“Pax Romana examines a famous, yet little understood, time, and is an excellent read for anyone interested in ancient history.”—Diana Biller, B&N Reads

B&N Reads - Diana Biller

“Goldsworthy brings a wonderful vitality to his subject; his account possesses an immediacy usually associated with contemporary history. The reader is treated to an enthralling view of a highly complex system of governance [in which] Goldsworthy gives statecraft its proper emphasis.” —Gerard DeGroot, The Times (London)

The Times - Gerard DeGroot

2016-07-19
An exploration of the “Roman Peace,” which held “sway over much of Western Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa for centuries.”The world has entered what some call the Pax Americana. Everyone knows that this phrase refers to ancient Rome, but it’s meant ironically because empires are now assumed to be despotic. Before World War II, empires enjoyed good press, and ancient Romans shared many Americans’ conviction that anyone with good sense wanted to be like them. In this thick but entirely compelling account, acclaimed British historian Goldsworthy (Augustus: First Emperor of Rome, 2014, etc.), who has written extensively about the Roman Empire, explains how it enforced genuine and long-lasting, if not idyllic, peace. From its founding in the eighth century B.C.E., the Italian town expanded by beating up on its neighbors, but Rome was unusual not because of its pugnacity but because of its success. Unwarlike societies in Iron Age Europe quickly vanished. “The Roman Republic celebrated military achievement as the greatest service of the state,” writes the author, “and mobilized extremely large resources…to wage war virtually every year.” After 150 B.C.E., having crushed Carthage and Macedonia, it ruled the western Mediterranean and began moving east. Expansion continued despite brutal civil wars that ended when Augustus became emperor in 27 B.C.E., the traditional beginning of Pax Romana, which lasted more than two centuries. The empire continued to expand, but wars tended to be at the frontier. As long as taxes arrived, provincial elites were allowed to govern according to local customs, and most of the empire was peaceful most of the time. Goldsworthy rightly reminds readers that external forces destroyed Rome. Unlike recent empires (British, French, Soviet), its colonies never rose up to demand freedom. They wanted to remain Roman. An engrossing account of how the Roman Empire grew and operated.

Kirkus Reviews