History Fact Finder | Eras and Their Highlights - What Was The Pax Romana?

What was the Pax Romana?

The Pax Romana (pax is Latin for peace) was a prolonged period of peace in the Roman Empire that lasted for more than two centuries, from about 27 B.C. until around A.D. 180. During this time no other empire or military power achieved victory against the Romans. Roman citizens were therefore able to concentrate on commerce, education, the arts, and literature. They borrowed many ideas from Greece, Egypt, and Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), lands they had conquered and made part of the Roman Empire during previous wars. In order to rule and protect the empire, Roman armies built a modern transportation system consisting of roads, aqueducts (structures that carry water over rivers or land), and tunnels. They raised the standard of living by expanding agriculture and trade. The Romans also developed a legal system that was used throughout the empire and later became a model for European and...

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