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Pax Romana (book)

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Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World
2016 book jacket
AuthorAdrian Goldsworthy
Audio read byDerek Perkins
SubjectAncient Roman Empire
Set in1st and 2nd centuries AD
Published2016
PublisherYale University Press
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint, eBook, Audio
Pages500+
ISBN9780300178821
OCLC941874968
WebsiteOfficial website

Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World is a nonfiction book that is both a historical analysis and interrogation of the ancient Roman Pax Romana of the first and second centuries AD. It was written by Adrian Goldsworthy and published by Yale University Press in 2016. [1][2][3][4][5]

Synopsis

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According to Patrick Hunt, writing for the academic journal Roman Archaeology, Goldsworthy depicts Pax Romana as a complex concept which came into being due to a combination of war, conquest, and ultimately the assertion of Roman law and administration over its territories. The book shows that the peace of Pax Romana was forged by violent and bloody conquest, mostly during the Roman Republic period.[2]

One of Goldsworthy's main points is that the narrative goes beyond oversimplified views of Pax Romana, because the period itself was comprised of both stability and brutality. Hunt says that one image of the Imperium during this period, as presented to the modern world, is as a time of prosperity, security, and strength in an organized society. However, Hunt notes that Goldsworthy "confidently reminds his readers that millions died in Roman wars, millions more became slaves, and even more would live under Roman rule, voluntarily or not."[2]

About the book

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The book chronologically divides into two main parts, the Republic and the Principate. Each part has chapters that cover different topics and people in the Roman world like the governing of provinces, or the benefits of living in the Empire. The first part on the Republic, Goldsworthy covers the rise of Rome, its roles in war, rivalries and friendships in its politics, roman trade, governing provinces, and diplomacy. Likewise, the second part pertaining to the Empire covers, chapter by chapter, a variety of other topics.[1]

Reception

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Anthony Smart writing for the academic journal The Classical World says that although a main argument is not fleshed out, the first part of the book on the Roman Republic, "provides a good balance between narrative flair and clear historical analysis." Also, the second part of the book, Rome as an empire, "covers an impressive variety of topics... the depth of analysis is somewhat inconsistent."[1]

Greg DeGroot, reviewing this book for The Times (UK), says that "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. Too often, Rome’s brutality has overshadowed the brilliance of her administrators. Goldsworthy gives statecraft its proper emphasis."[5]

According to Christopher Kelly, writing for The Times Literary Supplement, Goldsworthy's book, "explores [the] uncomfortable paradox of empire with honest and intelligent indecision. It is a satisfying and thought-provoking book for anyone determined to dislike the Romans while admiring their imperial achievement.[6]

Patrick Hunt of the academic journal Roman Archaeology says, "This new book will be far more than a textbook of great clarity and utility for university students taking courses on the history of Rome; like all of Goldsworthy’s works, it will also be immensely useful as a resource for scholars."[2]

Kirkus Reviews says, that Goldsworthy's book is "[a]n engrossing account of how the Roman Empire grew and operated."[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Smart, Anthony (2019). "Reviewed work: Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World, Adrian Goldsworthy". The Classical World. 112 (3): 241–243. doi:10.1353/clw.2019.0028. JSTOR 48553520. ProQuest 2233071721
  2. ^ a b c d Hunt, Patrick (2018). "Pax Romana in the balance: Peace after war and conquest - Adrian Goldsworthy, War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World". Journal of Roman Archaeology. 31: 636–638. doi:10.1017/S1047759418001654.
  3. ^ Woolf, Greg (September 9, 2016). "Conquering With Efficiency". The Wall Street Journal.
  4. ^ Ricks, Thomas (November 10, 2016). "Thomas Ricks on the Season's Military History". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  5. ^ a b DeGroot, Greg (August 6, 2016). "Nonfiction Review Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy". The Times (UK). London. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  6. ^ Kelly, Christopher. "PAX ROMANA: War, peace and conquest in the Roman world." TLS. Times Literary Supplement, no. 5962, 7 July 2017, p. 34. Gale Academic OneFile, Accessed 3 Aug. 2025. Gale A634972584
  7. ^ Staff (July 18, 2016). "Review: Pax Romana by Goldsworthy". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved July 8, 2025.

Other reviews

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  • Gale A496344669 Jones, Tony. "Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World." The Christian Century, May 24, 2017, 41. Gale Academic OneFile -- accessed August 3, 2025
  • Gale A485936682 Gabriel, R. A. (2017, May). Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World. Military History, 34(1), 71.
  • Freedman, Lawrence D. (2016). "Reviewed work: Pax Romana: War, Peace, and Conquest in the Roman World, ADRIAN GOLDSWORTHY". Foreign Affairs. 95 (6): 178. JSTOR 43948409.
  • Warren, Jason W. (2021). "Pax Romana: War, Peace, and Conquest in the Roman World." Parameters 50.(4): 165-6. Web. 2 Aug. 2025.(scroll down) or use ProQuest 2476869251

Further reading

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  • Strauss, Barry. Ten Caesars: Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine. Simon & Schuster. 2019. ISBN 978-1-451668841
  • Haynes, Ian. Blood of the Provinces: The Roman Auxilia and the Making of Provincial Society... Oxford University Press, 2013. ISBN 978-0-199655342
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