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Pax Romana's Stability and Cohesion
- The Roman Empire at its height was a cosmopolitan, relatively peaceful, and economically thriving state.
- It maintained cohesion through an ideology of consensus centered on the emperor's role and local elite cooperation.
3rd Century Crisis Explained
- The 3rd century was a crisis marked by political instability, plagues, and financial problems.
- These internal issues allowed barbarian groups to grow stronger due to neglect of Roman borders.
Rise of Bureaucracy and Authoritarianism
- The later Roman Empire saw a massive growth in bureaucracy and a shift towards authoritarian governance.
- Emperor's authority became more enforced rather than consensual, reflecting elite disengagement.