The Artios Home Companion Series
Unit 26: Two Hundred Years of Peace
Teacher Overview
The term “Pax Romana,” which literally means “Roman peace,” refers to the time period from
27 B.C. to 180 A.D. in the Roman Empire. This 200-year period saw unprecedented peace and
economic prosperity throughout the empire, which spanned from England in the north to
Morocco in the south and Iraq in the east. During the Pax Romana, the Roman Empire
reached its peak in terms of land area, and its population swelled to an estimated 70 million
people.
R e a d i n g a n d A s s i g nm e nt s
In this unit, students will:
 Complete one lesson in which they will
learn about the Pax Romana,
journaling and answering discussion
questions as they read.
 Define a vocabulary word.
 Visit
www.ArtiosHCS.com
for
additional resources.
L e a di ng I de a s
Blessed is the nation whose God is the
LORD, the people whom he has chosen
as his heritage!
— Psalm 33:12
It is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up
another.
— Psalm 75:7
The Augustus of Prima Porta, (early 1st century AD)
V o c a bu l a r y
K e y Pe o pl e , P l ac e s , a n d E v e nt s
Lesson 1:
princeps
Julius Caesar
Cleopatra
Ovid
Mark Antony
Horace
Livy
Octavian
Virgil
Marcus Aureliu
Ancient: Middle School
Unit 26: Two Hundred Years of Peace
Page 385
Lesson One
History Overview and Assignments
The Second Triumvirate
This map depicts the Roman Empire in 117 A.D., at the height of the Pax Romana.
R e a di ng a nd A s s i g nm e nt s
 Review the discussion questions and vocabulary, then read the article: The Pax Romana.
 Narrate about today’s reading using the appropriate notebook page. Be sure to answer the
discussion questions and include key people, events, and dates within the narration.
 Define the vocabulary word in the context of the reading and put the word and its definition
in the vocabulary section of your history notebook.
 Be sure to visit www.ArtiosHCS.com for additional resources.
Vocabulary
K e y Pe o pl e , P l ac e s , a n d E v e nt s
princeps
Julius Caesar
Cleopatra
Ovid
Mark Antony
Horace
Livy
Octavian
Virgil
Marcus Aurelius
Ancient: Middle School
Unit 26: Two Hundred Years of Peace
Page 386
D i s c us s i o n Que s t i o ns
1. What does Pax Romana mean?
6. Who did Mark Antony fall in love with?
What country was she from?
2. What was the atmosphere in Rome
during the Pax Romana?
3. What happened after the murder of
Julius Caesar?
7. What is one of the most famous
structures built during the Pax
Romana?
4. Who ruled after Julius Caesar?
8. Name two of Rome’s finest writers?
9. Who was the last emperor during the
Pax Romana?
5. What were some of the Roman
accomplishments during the Pax
Romana?
Adapted for Middle School from the book:
Ancient Civilizations
source: ushistory.org
The Pax Romana
The term “Pax Romana,” which literally
means “Roman peace,” refers to the time
period from 27 B.C. to 180 A.D. in the
Roman Empire.
This
200-year
period
saw
unprecedented peace and economic
prosperity throughout the empire, which
spanned from England in the north to
Morocco in the south and Iraq in the east.
During the Pax Romana, the Roman
Empire reached its peak in terms of land
area, and its population swelled to an
estimated 70 million people.
Nevertheless, Rome’s citizens were
relatively secure, and the government
generally maintained law, order, and
stability. The Pax Romana began when
Octavian became the leader of the Roman
Empire.
Civil War and More
After the murder of Julius Caesar, a
period of civil war erupted in Rome. Out of
this turmoil emerged the Second
Triumvirate, consisting of Lepidus, Antony,
and Octavian, who was Julius Caesar’s
nephew. This new triumvirate ruled Rome
for a decade, but as happened with the First
Triumvirate, differences among the leaders
eventually emerged.
Octavian defeated Lepidus in battle and
then turned his armies against the more
powerful Mark Antony. Antony had fallen in
love with and married the spellbinding
queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. At the Battle of
Actium off the coast of Greece in 31 B.C.,
Octavian’s navy defeated the navy of Antony
and Cleopatra, who both later committed
suicide.
Octavian returned to Rome triumphant
and gave himself the title of princeps or
“first citizen.” Octavian was careful not to
upset the Senate by declaring himself
dictator as his uncle Julius Caesar had done.
Even though Octavian ruled as a de facto
dictator, he maintained the Senate and
Ancient: Middle School
Unit 26: Two Hundred Years of Peace
Page 387
other institutions
government.
of
the
republican
Rome, has one of the largest freestanding
domes in the world to this day.
The Roman army built the roads that connected the vast
Roman Empire. By layering sand, cement, and stone,
they created durable roads that lasted long after the fall
of Rome.
The romance between Antony and Cleopatra has
inspired the imaginations of artists for a millennium.
In 27 B.C., the Senate bestowed the holy
title of Augustus upon Octavian. Augustus,
as he became known, ruled for 41 years, and
the policies he enacted lay the groundwork
for the peace and stability of the Pax
Romana.
All Roads Lead to Rome
The 200 years of the Pax Romana saw
many advances and accomplishments,
particularly in engineering and the arts. To
help maintain their sprawling empire, the
Romans built an extensive system of roads.
These durable roads facilitated the
movement of troops and communication.
The Romans also built aqueducts to carry
water overland to cities and farms.
Many of the advances in architecture
and building relied upon the Romans’
development of concrete. Concrete made
possible the creation of huge rounded
arches and domes.
One of the most famous structures built
during the Pax Romana, the Pantheon in
During the Pax Romana, many of
Rome’s finest writers (such as Horace,
Virgil, Ovid, and Livy) produced literary and
poetic masterpieces. Rome became the
economic, political, and cultural capital of
the entire Western world.
Caligula’s bizarre and sometimes sadistic behavior
eventually led to his assassination in 41 A.D.
Ancient: Middle School
Unit 26: Two Hundred Years of Peace
Page 388
Bald Was Not Beautiful
After Augustus’s death in 14 A.D., other
Roman emperors ruled with varying
effectiveness. One emperor, Caligula, was
mentally ill and regularly abused his power.
He was so sensitive about his baldness that
he prohibited anyone from looking down
upon his head and shaved some people who
had a full heads of hair.
Caligula was a vicious sadist who took
great pleasure in watching people being put
to death in brutal ways. In fact, he often
requested that killings be prolonged as
much as possible. Caligula also had a
tremendous sexual appetite and committed
incest with his sisters.
Caligula even invited his favorite horse
to eat at formal state dinners.
Eventually, his bizarre and tyrannical
behavior turned the Romans against him,
and in 41 A.D., Caligula was assassinated by
members of his own Praetorian guard.
Not all emperors were unfit to rule. In
fact, a series of leaders known as the Five
Good Emperors ruled in succession and
presided over a prolonged period of peace
and prosperity.
The last of these emperors, Marcus
Aurelius, was the final emperor of the Pax
Romana. His reign was followed by the
disastrous reign of his brutal son
Commodus (160-192 A.D.). By this time, the
Empire was struggling to hold off attacking
tribes on the frontiers.
“Consider when thou art much vexed or grieved, that
man’s life is only a moment, and after a short time we
are all laid out dead.” -Marcus Aurelius
Ancient: Middle School
Unit 26: Two Hundred Years of Peace
Page 389