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The term "Pax Romana," which literally means "Roman peace," refers to the time period from 27
B.C.E. to 180 C.E. in the Roman Empire. When Octavian took the throne as the Emperor
Augustine, the period of civil wars ended and there was a beginning the age of the emperors. The Pax
Romana began with the reign of Augustus, Caesar's adopted son and heir; under his reign, conquered
peoples were not treated as slaves, but instead integrated. During the time, no external empire or
military power achieved victory against the Romans and, civil accord amongst the Romans was
relatively peaceful with minimal uprisings. This period spanned the reigns of many emperors, each
with their own successes and failures but, the bloodshed common to previous reigns was not seen.
There were several other factors which contributed to this time of peace. The regions the Empire
conquered weren't as resistant as previous conquests had proven to be. The areas taken under Roman
domain during this era were accepting of the Empire because of the Empire's strides to assimilate
different cultures together.
The main features of this period were:
● Law and order was an essential ideal of the Pax, and an increasing prosperity accompanied
the advances of the Empire. This peace, allowed the Roman citizens, therefore, to concentrate
on commerce, education, the arts and literature.
● They built a modern transportation system of roads, aqueducts (water system)and
tunnels. The navy suppressed piracy, and the seaways provided a faster, cheaper way of
transporting goods. All this helped to bring the peoples and provinces together.
● They raised the standard of living by expanding agriculture and trade and, developed a
legal system which was not only used throughout the empire but later, as a base model for
much of the world. Trade flourished and the people prospered. This all, not only
strengthened the empire's hold at the time but also, ensured the longevity of Roman culture
and ideals, much of which still exists today.
● Of the contributions made by the Romans in government and politics, Roman law is the
most important. Roman law is the basis for law codes throughout the world today. Roman
law evolved slowly over a period of about a thousand years. When Rome was a struggling
city-state, the law was unwritten, mixed with religious custom, and harsh in its judgments.
Laws were finally written down in the Twelve Tables during the Republic.
● By the 2nd century A.D., when the emperor had become the sole source of law, a
responsibility he entrusted to scholars skilled in the law called juris prudentes. These jurists
organized Roman law to meet the needs of a world state. Roman law was codified and
standardized to make them fair for everyone in the empire.
● The Roman Empire gradually spread its seeds throughout Europe, North Africa and the
Middle East, establishing a visible presence in these regions.
● As the Empire achieved this visibility, for once they weren't viewed as invaders by their
conquests, but instead looked upon as a regime which promoted a common culture.
● This perception resulted in the unity of a large population of peoples and led to many
diverse people being brought together in harmony. Through this acceptance of the Empire,
Roman civilization was able to continue to reach faraway lands.
Some Facts about Pax Romana
The Pax Romana was the only time in history when the whole Mediterranean and the lands around it
were at peace under a united government. Because everyone in the Empire lived under Roman law,
and most people could speak Latin, The empire was connected by its vast network of roads, which
were built for military purposes, but which helped communications of all kinds. The provinces had to
provide tribute and taxes, which they paid in goods more often than in money. The most important
commodity was grain. Every year over 400,000 tons of grain came from North Africa, Egypt and
Sicily to feed the people of Rome. Without it, the people would have starved. Rome depended on the
provinces to provide luxuries. Spain provided wine, olive oil, honey, salt fish, wax, pitch, cochineal (a
red dye made from crushed beetles), black wool and fine cloth. Wine also came from France, and
more cloth was imported from Syria, which also provided glassware; silks came from the Far East and
robes came from Babylon. Shoes were imported from Greece, incense from Arabia. Marble arrived
from Africa and Asia, gems were brought from India, amber from the Baltic. Italy exported wine to
Gaul and Britain. Aristides described Rome as ‘a common market for the world’.
Questions
1. How did Pax Romana help to develop the Roman Civilization? Explain with historical
evidence.
2. ‘Pax Romana’ was the first move towards ‘globalization’. Do you agree? Explain your answer
with examples.
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