Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Pax Romana has long been shorthand for the empires golden age. Stretching from Caledonia to Arabia, Rome ruled over a quarter of the worlds 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: Neros downfall, the destruction of Jerusalem and Pompeii, the building of the Colosseum and Hadrians 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 Romes glory days, this is the epic history of the Pax Romana.