Description
Product Description 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. Review "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 (London)"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, "What to Give: History Books," Wall Street Journal"Entirely compelling . . . An engrossing account of how the Roman Empire grew and operated."—Kirkus Reviews"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)"Engaging and consistently informative."—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs"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"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"Monumental and highly engaging . . . While his prose is clear and measured,
Features
- Yale University Press