I've just finished Tom Holland's latest book, Pax, subtitled War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age which covers the period from the demise of Nero through the subsequent year of four emperors (69) and on through to the end of the reign of Hadrian (138). It's a general history and so he presents the most interesting bits. I was surprised to see no mention of Domitian's persectuion of the Christians. Otherwise, there are plenty of historical sidelights for anyone interested in the New Testament and early church history. Tom Holland writes quite well and this is an easy way to catch up on Roman history you may have missed. Understandably there are details that are quite coarse and debauched but these are handled fairly well. He also goes some way to explaining what the Pax Romana was.
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