Podcast
The Pax Romana Podcast
Hosted by Professor Colin Elliott · EN
The assassination of Julius Caesar 2,000 years ago unleashed a wild era of Roman emperors, dark conspiracies, intense battles, economic booms and busts and profound religious shifts. Was this truly the Roman Empire's golden age? On the weekly Pax Romana Podcast, Historian Colin Elliott brings gripping stories from Roman history to life. Dive into history starting in episode 1 , or pick your poison from our catalogue: the birth of the empire in the Age of Augustus, Nero's Great Fire, the rise of Christianity, the wisdom and wars of Marcus Aurelius or the military chaos of the third century AD.
33episodes
Episodes
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Diocletian's Edict on Maximum Prices - The Pax Romana Podcast 81
Jun 11, 202500:21:41Tap to summarizeDiocletian’s Edict on Maximum Prices was a bold attempt to combat hyperinflation. It was sold with moralizing rhetoric--not unlike rhetoric in favor of anti-price-gouging laws or wage and price controls in modern states. Diocletian blamed greed instead of addressing currency issues. Did the Price Edict work?Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
Transcribe →The Militarization of the Roman Empire - The Pax Romana Podcast 80
Jun 5, 202500:21:35Tap to summarizeThe Roman Empire under Diocletian saw sweeping changes that reshaped its core. Provinces were reorganized and multiplied to tighten administrative control. The bureaucracy swelled, with tens of thousands of officials managing the sprawling empire. Peasants were bound to the land they worked, securing a steady flow of taxes and labor. Meanwhile, the military's reach deepened, its influence seeping into daily life.Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
Transcribe →The Tetrarchy - The Pax Romana Podcast 79
May 29, 202500:21:34Tap to summarizeDiocletian a low-born Illyrian, rose to emperor in a period of crisis. Instead of waiting for another civil war to erupt, he appointed Maximian to co-rule with him, and handle the problematic western empire. But as problems with invading armies and usurpers continued, Diocletian took the dramatic step of appointing additional emperors in AD 293, establishing the Tetrarchy ('Rule of Four Men'). This militarized system concentrated power in the hands of four absolute autocrats, sidelining the Senate and marking the shift from Principate to Dominate.Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
Transcribe →Diocletian's Rise - The Pax Romana Podcast 78
May 21, 202500:20:54Tap to summarizeTurmoil resumed following Emperor Aurelian’s assassination in AD 275. Rapidly changing emperors, barbarian invasions and internal strife defined the years 275-284. Within this chaos, Diocles, a low-born Dalmatian soldier, seized power in 284. But instead of joining the long list of warlords that only temporarily won power before falling in civil war, he laid a new foundation for a transformative era in Roman politics.Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
Transcribe →What are the Best Roman History Books? - The Pax Romana Podcast QA10
May 14, 202500:30:20Tap to summarizeStudents often ask me for Roman Empire book recommendations. Listeners have as well. It is easy to find popular histories, but here I discuss eleven excellent hidden gems--books that are great for the causal reader, but robust enough that I’ve used them in my research and teaching. These aren’t popular titles, but they’re brilliantly crafted by leading academics, diving deep into Rome’s history, culture, religion and economy. Each book is well-written, accessible, and budget-friendly, perfect for history fans and students eager to explore Rome’s epic story.Book List:Rome: An Empire’s Story by Greg WoolfThe Fall of the Roman Empire by Peter HeatherMarcus Aurelius by Antony BirleyWorld Full of Gods by Keith HopkinsThe Rise of Christianity: A Sociologist Reconsiders History by Rodney StarkPerpetua’s Journey: Faith, Gender, and Power in the Roman Empire by Jennifer A. Rea and Liz ClarkeFrom Caesar to Augustus: Using Coins as Sources by Clare RowanHypatia: The Life and Legend of an Ancient Philosopher by Edward WattsThe Roman Empire: Roots of Imperialism by Neville MorleyThe Roman Market Economy by Peter TeminThe Roman Empire: Economy, Society and Culture by Peter Garnsey and Richard SallerDonate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
Transcribe →Was Seneca a True Stoic or Fraud? - The Pax Romana Podcast
May 9, 202500:19:15Tap to summarizeLucius Annaeus Seneca, the 1st-century Roman Stoic, sparks endless debate. His works, like Letters to Lucilius and On the Shortness of Life, preach virtue, simplicity, and resilience. Yet, Seneca amassed a fortune of 300 million sesterces, owned lavish villas and advised Nero. Critics call him a hypocrite. His Stoic writings inspire, but do they align with his actions? This tension defines his legacy. Was Seneca a true Stoic, or was he a fraud?
Transcribe →Who is My Favorite Roman Emperor? - The Pax Romana Podcast
Apr 30, 202500:18:36Tap to summarizeListeners and students have asked me who my favorite Roman emperor is. Lists of the "best" emperors often highlight giants like Augustus, Trajan, and Marcus Aurelius—undeniably impressive for their conquests and governance. But my favorite, for personal reasons, is a man overlooked by many historians and dismissed by the writers of his time. A blue-blooded elite, he seized power in a chaotic coup, faced senatorial scorn, yet ruled effectively. He expanded the empire, improved infrastructure, and, remarkably, seemed to enjoy himself while doing it. Who is this underappreciated emperor? Check out the episode to find out.Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
Transcribe →Was Rome's Grain Dole a Benefit or a Burden? - The Pax Romana Podcast
Apr 23, 202500:23:20Summary readyAncient Rome--the heart of an empire--was fed by a vast network of ships and storehouses that brought grain from distant lands like Egypt and Africa. The Roman state orchestrated this colossal effort, called the Annona, to feed its citizens, a feat unmatched in the pre-industrial world. But behind this marvel lay a darker story—rural farmers stripped of their harvests, urban masses dependent on handouts and a system driven by political ambition. Today, we’ll explore this complex machine that kept Rome alive and ask: was the Roman government’s grain dole system helpful or harmful?
SummaryWas Jesus a Historical Figure? - The Pax Romana Podcast
Apr 16, 202500:17:40Tap to summarizeIn first-century Galilee, King Herod Antipas’s stable rule provided a relatively peaceful setting for Jesus of Nazareth, born around 4 BC, to emerge as a Jewish preacher, promoting repentance and the kingdom of God. Conversely, Judea faced turmoil under Roman prefects like Pontius Pilate. By around AD 30, Jesus entered Jerusalem, and was crucified within a week. But was Jesus a mere mythological figure, or did he really exist? Ancient sources outside the New testament canon in fact confirm that Jesus was real. Josephus’s Antiquities (AD 93–94) describes Jesus as a wise man crucified under Pilate; Tacitus’s Annals (AD 116) notes “Christus” suffered 'the extreme penalty'; Pliny the Younger’s letters (AD 112) affirm a growing movement of Christ-followers almost a century after Jesus' crucifixion.
Transcribe →Did Roman Emperors Employ Spies? - The Pax Romana Podcast
Apr 9, 202500:15:38Tap to summarizeRoman emperors governed a sprawling empire, from Britain to Syria—but how did they maintain control over such vast lands? Did they rely on spies to monitor their enemies and ensure loyalty? Enter the frumentarii, a mysterious group of soldiers originally tasked with grain supply. History reveals they evolved into agents of espionage, assassination, and taxation, serving emperors like Hadrian and Severus. This episode uncovers their shadowy roles—and why their power crumbled under Diocletian.
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