Concept in Definition ABC

Pax means peace in Latin, but it is not a simple peace understood as the opposite of war. In fact, its true meaning must be understood as the period of military hegemony and politics in which an empire imposes a certain stability on its domains.

The Pax Romana in the time of Octavian Augustus

Cayus Iulius Caesar Augustus, better known as Octavio Augusto, was born in 63 BC. C and died in the year 14. C, precisely in the month that refers to his person, the month of August. During his stage of government there was a period known as the Pax Romana.

The emperor Octavian Augustus had an important role in relation to the stability of his vast empire

It must be taken into account that at that time the dominions of Rome extended from the Galician coasts to the Euphrates River in Mesopotamia and from the Danube River to North Africa.

During the stage of his government he promoted Latin schools in the main cities of the Empire, the great roads of communication (the Roman roads) and, very especially, a stage of peace was imposed in all territories, the Pax Romana or Pax Augusta

The Pax Romana in the times of Octavio Augusto signified a period of economic prosperity, cultural expansion and social reforms.

Most historians maintain that the Pax Romana imposed by the emperor was based on a kind of pact between the Romans and the subject peoples. Thus, traditions and the religion of the conquered peoples were respected and in return the peoples under Roman rule obtained a series of benefits (improvements in their living conditions, military protection from possible invaders, infrastructures ...).

The expression "pax romana"

The meaning of Pax Romana goes beyond a specific historical period in which there was a certain stability. Thus, the expression pax romana refers to a paradox, the peace imposed by the victor. It is not about a peace between two peoples with similar forces fighting for a territoryInstead, one is the powerful and the other accepts "peace" because he has no alternative.

The Roman Goddess Pax

For the Romans the goddess Pax, daughter of Jupiter and Justice, was represented as a woman of extraordinary beauty and good heart. She is normally represented with the Horn of Plenty (the symbol of fertility) in one of her hands and an olive branch in the other (the olive branch is a symbol of peace). In mythology the goddess Pax symbolized the coexistence among human beings.

Photo: Fotolia - Halfpoint