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b'The Pax Romana has long been shorthand for the empire\\u2019s golden age. Stretching from Caledonia to Arabia, Rome ruled over a quarter of the world\\u2019s population. It was the wealthiest and most formidable state in the history of humankind.

Today we are speaking with Tom Holland, author of \\u201cPax: War and Peace in Rome\\u2019s Golden Age\\u201d to explore Rome at the height of its power. From the gilded capital to realms beyond the frontier, we see ancient Rome in all its glory and cruelty: Nero\\u2019s downfall, the destruction of Jerusalem and Pompeii, the building of the Colosseum and Hadrian\\u2019s Wall, and the conquests of Trajan. Looking at the lives of Romans both ordinary and spectacular, from slaves to emperors, we see that Roman peace was the fruit of unprecedented military violence.'