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Pax Romana
The period known as the Pax Romana, or "peace of Rome," began in the year 27 BC
when Octavian took the throne as the Emperor Augustine, ending the period of civil
wars and 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. This initiated a long period of incredible
accomplishment, as the Empire expanded and was knit together by an amazing system
of roads and through the census (In the beginning was the census. Every five years,
each male Roman citizen had to register in Rome for the census. In this he had to
declare his family, wife, children, slaves and riches. Should he fail to do this, his
possessions would be confiscated and he would be sold into slavery) which was first
introduced by Augustus. Roman cities boasted water systems, sewage systems, public
transport and many other advantages. 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.
Law and order was an essential ideal of the Pax or Peace, 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 and tunnels. 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. 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. During the remainder of the Republic, the body of Roman Law had to deal
with matters for Romans and non-Romans. 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.
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, trade flourished
and the people prospered. The empire was connected by its vast network of roads,
which were built for military purposes, but which helped communications of all kinds.
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. 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’.
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.
1. Why was it important that Caesar made the law that “…conquered peoples were not to be treated as
slaves, but instead were integrated…” into Roman Society?
2. In Modern American Society what would a juris prudentes be?
3. How is the keeping up of roads important to the Roman Empire?
4. How did Pax Romana affect Roman Society?