When the emperor Marcus Aurelius came to power in 161 CE, the Roman Empire had enjoyed nearly 200 years of peace.
This period was called the Pax Romana, or Roman Peace. Marcus Aurelius was the last of what are sometimes called the “Five Good Emperors.”
Marcus Aurelius was a thoughtful leader who cared about his subjects, but he faced many troubles during his rule. He had to wage wars against invading Germanic tribes in the north and against the Parthian Empire, based in present-day Iraq and Iran, in the east. The emperor also faced problems at home. The Roman Empire was in decline, or losing strength. This decline would go on for the next 200 years.
