Pax Romana - Goshen Central School District

Pax Romana

• 27 BCE – 180 CE
• 200 year period of virtual peace
• Started with Augustus Caesar and ended

with the death of Marcus Aurelius
• Conquered people rebelled but rebellions

usually easily squashed

• Government became a dictatorship led by an
emperor

• Many achievements were made during this time in

– Art
– Architecture
– Engineering
– Medicine
– Science

It was a golden age! That’s right…good and
golden!

Augustus Caesar

• Maintained a strong economic system
• Free trade within the empire
• Extended the highway system… connecting the

vast parts of the empire
• Developed an effective postal service
• Built bridges and aqueducts
• Was a patron to many artists and writers
• Was emperor when Jesus was born

Bread & Circuses

• Circus Maximus

– Rome’s largest race course
– Chariot races were a huge spectator sport

• Colosseum

–One of Rome’s greatest architectural achievements

–Home to the Gladiator Events

–Most gladiators were slaves

–Some won their freedom

–Others met their death

Keep them happy & remind them of war!

• Events were paid with tax dollars
• Meant to pacify citizens
• There were underlying political and social

problems that were not being addressed
• These problems eventually led to the fall of

Rome

Roman Achievements

• Government and law

– 5 Principles of Roman Law

• All men are equal under the law

• Innocent until proven guilty

• Accused have the right to face accuser

• Accused has the right to defend himself against
the charge

• Judges are allowed to interpret the laws and are
expected to make fair decisions based on
evidence