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Pax
- War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age
- Narrated by: Tom Holland
- Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
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Great first listens
Publisher's summary
The definitive history of Rome’s golden age—an ultimate superpower at the pinnacle of its greatness
The Pax Romana has long been shorthand for the empire’s golden age. Stretching from Caledonia to Arabia, Rome ruled over a quarter of the world’s population. It was the wealthiest and most formidable state in the history of humankind.
Pax is a captivating narrative history of Rome at the height of its power. From the gilded capital to realms beyond the frontier, historian Tom Holland shows ancient Rome in all its glory: Nero’s downfall, the destruction of Jerusalem and Pompeii, the building of the Colosseum and Hadrian’s Wall, the conquests of Trajan. Vividly sketching the lives of Romans both ordinary and spectacular, from slaves to emperors, Holland shows that Roman peace was the fruit of unprecedented military violence.
A stunning portrait of Rome’s glory days, this is the epic history of the Pax Romana.
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Story
In the year 493, the leader of a vast confederation of Gothic warriors, their wives, and children personally cut down Odoacer, the man famous for deposing the last Roman emperor in 476. That leader became Theoderic the Great (454-526). This engaging history of his life and reign immerses listeners in the world of the warrior-king who ushered in decades of peace and stability in Italy as king of Goths and Romans.
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More for historians than general readers
- By Bill Staley on 10-29-23
By: Hans-Ulrich Wiemer, and others
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Uncommon Wrath
- How Caesar and Cato's Deadly Rivalry Destroyed the Roman Republic
- By: Josiah Osgood
- Narrated by: Ana Clements
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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In Uncommon Wrath, historian Josiah Osgood tells the story of how the political rivalry between Julius Caesar and Marcus Cato precipitated the end of the Roman Republic. As the champions of two dominant but distinct visions for Rome, Caesar and Cato each represented qualities that had made the Republic strong, but their ideological differences entrenched into enmity and mutual fear. The intensity of their collective factions became a tribal divide, hampering their ability to make good decisions and undermining democratic government.
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Uncommonly Good
- By Aneil and Karen Mishra on 04-27-23
By: Josiah Osgood
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Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood
- The Rise and Fall of Byzantium, 955 A.D. to the First Crusade
- By: Anthony Kaldellis
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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In the second half of the tenth century, Byzantium embarked on a series of spectacular conquests. By the early eleventh century, the empire was the most powerful state in the Mediterranean. Yet this imperial project came to a crashing collapse fifty years later, when political disunity, fiscal mismanagement, and defeat at the hands of the Seljuks and the Normans brought an end to Byzantine hegemony. By 1081, Byzantium's very existence was threatened.
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Well researched, well written
- By 19levans on 03-06-24
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Justinian
- Emperor, Soldier, Saint
- By: Peter Sarris
- Narrated by: Mark Elstob
- Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Justinian is a radical reassessment of an emperor and his times. In the sixth century CE, the emperor Justinian presided over nearly four decades of remarkable change, in an era of geopolitical threats, climate change, and plague. From the eastern Roman—or Byzantine—capital of Constantinople, Justinian’s armies reconquered lost territory in Africa, Italy, and Spain. But these military exploits, historian Peter Sarris shows, were just one part of a larger program of imperial renewal.
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Excellent, engaging and informative
- By Kevin on 02-22-24
By: Peter Sarris
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The Fall of Carthage
- The Punic Wars 265-146BC
- By: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 16 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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The struggle between Rome and Carthage in the Punic Wars was arguably the greatest and most desperate conflict of antiquity. The forces involved and the casualties suffered by both sides were far greater than in any wars fought before the modern era, while the eventual outcome had far-reaching consequences for the history of the Western World, namely the ascendancy of Rome. An epic of war and battle, this is also the story of famous generals and leaders: Hannibal, Fabius Maximus, Scipio Africanus, and his grandson Scipio Aemilianus, who would finally bring down the walls of Carthage.
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Captivating
- By Jean on 03-25-19
What listeners say about Pax
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- William S Grainge
- 06-23-24
Superlative scholarship and dramatic delivery
Tom Holland completes his brilliant trilogy with wonderful character portraits of the emperors who followed Nero. His delivery and deep scholarship show the great love he has for the creation of the Roman Empire and the role it had in creating lasting peace in the West.
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- Ellen
- 10-07-23
Excellent!
Listening to Tom Holland makes you smarter. This was a good one on a fascinating subject.
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- Stacey
- 10-12-23
A living narrative
Tom Holland is delightful. The most shocking and revealing aspect of this book might lie in the dimension of myth. Just as this dimension would have been inseparable from the lives of the Romans, so too is it inseparable from Holland’s telling. Practicalities, power, and politics intermingle with the divine — each directing and guiding the other. In this divine interaction, chronological events begin to Breathe.
I walk away fuller, richer, and glad to have listened. Thank you, Tom!
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- rzlbrk
- 11-03-23
Tom Holland delivers like a Triumphant Caesar once again…
This addition to his narrative of Roman history is a masterpiece of storytelling, even after having knowledge of the main events of this period, Tom Holland will make connections that delight and surprise. If one is interested in the era of Rome at its climax, look no further, this book belongs in the pantheon of great Roman histories.
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- Tom Snader
- 10-18-23
History in a narrative form that keep the reader interested
Myth pervaded my understanding of The Romans. This volume help me understand the reality of times. The expanse of their rule, the strategies of how to maintain it, the corruption, glory, barbarity, and magnitude of the efforts needed and the vulnerability of it all. Unthinkable wealth and material accomplishment beyond any we could expect from their limited tools, machines, technology, and scientific understanding. What is similar to today is the variations in morality, deviousness, corruption, plotting and scheming, honor and duplicity, and lesson upon lesson of what to do and not do to rule an empire in peace and war. So many terms and sayings spring from these times when a vast empire dominated the world and yet how fragile and tenuously that rule was is presented in the narration. The narration is entertaining and sophisticated. One has to wonder how much is speculation and how large the gaps in fact versus guesswork are as the narrative flows as if none exist at all. Worth listening to several times to really grasp the facts but one listening gives the audience a much greater understanding of the time and the many lessons they have for us. Lifts the veils on many of the fairy tale images one may have of that time that will likely never be seen again on earth.
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- Nathan Kniffen
- 12-14-23
Narrative History at its Finest
Tom Holland is a master of narrative history, detailing the events of Ancient Rome with the same drama and intrigue as could be expected in a thriller novel. Rubicon and Dynasty (his previous two books on Rome) are both great but Pax may be my favorite out of the three. Holland’s sophisticated prose and diction are present as ever here but the overall narrative is easier to follow. Unlike Rubicon and Dynasty, however, he narrates his own work in Pax. Initially I was speculative of the result as his voice doesn’t carry quite the gravitas of his past narrators. However, his enunciation is clear and his infliction is subtly engaging—even when listening at 2X narration speed. Ultimately, I came to enjoy this book even more by hearing Holland himself tell the story of Pax Romana. A fine addition to any history enthusiast’s library.
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- Ricardo Raùl Salazar-Rey
- 01-01-24
Storytelling
The Roman’s always win. Tom Holland is an incredible Weaver of primary sources. Part of a three part series, but does not seem limited or incomplete. 
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- Mic
- 09-27-23
Great book!
This is a lovely literary jaunt through the period known as the Pax Romana. This is a long way from the brusk lectures I’ve heard where “this date this happened, then this date that happened”. The book is filled with antidotes and personalized prospectives of the people covered, bring their stories to life.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Spencer
- 10-29-23
Great consider narrative
Great narrative of Roman Empire. Easy to follow. Will listen again and again. Great. Excellent
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- Creasy Bear
- 04-13-24
Tom Holland is the perfect narrator for his works.
Excellent picture of the Peace of Rome brought by the Sword of Rome. Author is also the perfect narrator.
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