Pax Romana (27B.C. -- 180AD)
After a long and bloody civil war Octavian Augustus became the first Emperor of
Rome in 27 B.C. He had an ambitious plan to make Rome a powerful and safe empire.
Augustus paved the way for a period of peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana
or “Roman Peace”. This peace lasted for almost 200 years.
Throughout the 200 years, Rome needed a professional and permanent army to
protect itself from rebellions and outside invaders. Rome’s military was strong and well
trained. As time passed new emperors used the Roman military to increase the size of
the empire all the way into England, Africa, and the Middle East. As the military took
new land they brought back gold, slaves, and continues to spread Roman culture. This
made Rome rich and very large.
In order to maintain a large empire Rome had to create new laws for all the people
in the empire; Romans and non-Romans. These laws became standardized in 125 AD.
The laws were just and fair and people followed them because they were reasonable.
These laws united most people in the empire. Today Roman laws form the basis for most
western countries and the Christian church.
Due to the safety provided by the army Rome’s trade increased. The Romans built
roads throughout their empire (almost 50,000 miles worth). These roads united the
people and made it easier to travel and trade. Rome’s trade led to the development of a
common currency (system of money) and a standard system of weights and
measurements. This allowed people to price goods, trade, and ship products easier.
Increased trade meant there was more money for new products and the economy
boomed. Rome’s cities became rich and large.
Due to all the new wealth in the empire, Rome was able to build and engineer great
works of architecture. During Pax Romana, Rome built the great Colosseum where the
gladiators fought. They also built monuments, bridges and roads, schools, harbors for
trade, and aqueducts to carry clean water into their cities. After almost 2,000 years
many of these buildings and structures remain today. These works and the spread of
Roman culture unified the people living under Rome’s rule in Western Europe.
Even with all the good Pax Romana brought it cost the empire a lot of money to
keep the peace. There was “war” and “violence”. Also the poor remained poor and
slavery continued to rise in Rome. Many emperors and senators continued to give free
bread and entertainment to the Roman poor and spent money on luxury items and grand
building projects.
BrainPop #2 Pax Romana and Pax Romana Reading
1. What was Pax Romana?
2. Why was the Roman army so important?
3. Why did the Roman government work so well?
4. The Romans were known as the great _____________________. They built __________,
____________, and _____________. Some of these still ___________ ___________.
5. What language spread throughout all of Rome? ______________
6. What protected Rome during the time of Pax Romana?
7. Why was it a good idea for Rome to have a common currency?
8. Why were aqueducts an important structure to build?
“That’s IT in a nutshell”
Write a sentence that describes the overall “Big Idea” of Pax Romana
What happened to Rome during Pax Romana?
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*** Why was it so important for Rome to have the same language, laws, and money
system? _____________________________________________
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