I think the definition given for "Pax Romana" in Today's Word leaves out a lot of important considerations. I have not read enough history to pretend authority, but here are my ideas. Rome spent a hell of a lot of blood and money to pacify the their world, basically to ensure peace in Italy. To be sure, they squeezed a lot of money out of the vanquished. But they protected trade, built roads,got rid of pirates, and everybody benefitted from that. Rome brought the Mediterranean world prosperity it had never known before, and did not know again for hundreds of years after Rome fell.
Let's hear what some of our better read members have to say.

Somebody, I forget who, is supposed to have summarised Livy as the Romans conquered the world in self-defence.

Bingley