The emperor Marcus Aurelius came to power in 161 CE. At that time, the Roman Empire had had almost 200 years of peace.
This time was called the Pax Romana, or Roman Peace. Marcus Aurelius was the last of the “Five Good Emperors,” as they are sometimes called.
Marcus Aurelius was a kind, smart leader who cared about his people. Yet he faced many problems while ruling. In the north, he had to fight off invading Germanic tribes, and he also had to defend the east against the Parthian Empire, based in present-day Iraq and Iran. He faced troubles at home, too. The Roman Empire was losing strength. This decline would go on for the next 200 years.
