Illustrated by Kent Barton

There is no one quite like Tom Holland for capturing the magnificent drama of the Roman Empire, and with Pax the story continues as antiquity’s ultimate superpower reaches the pinnacle of its greatness.

Following Rubicon and Dynasty, Pax takes up the history after the death of Nero in AD 68, with Rome commanding an empire stretching from Scotland to Arabia, and perhaps a quarter of humanity under its sway. The empire now enters a golden age of stability, prosperity and peace – but the Pax Romana is anything but peaceful. There is the destruction of Jerusalem, the conquests of Trajan, the further subjugation of the British and the building of Hadrian’s Wall (Rome at its predatory best), and at home, the catastrophe of Pompeii and the horrors of the gladiatorial spectaculars at Rome’s new arena, the Colosseum. Holland brings us the ancient world in all its sights, sounds and smells – its scandals, pomp and magnificence.

Twenty-four pages of colour images offer a glimpse into this dramatic period of Roman history – coins, sculptures, landscapes and frescoes (one of which, a fresco of gladiators in a Pompeii tomb, was rephotographed exclusively for this edition). Also included are 14 hand-drawn maps by cartographer Kevin Freeborn and a fine cover portrait of Emperor Hadrian by Kent Barton.