Rome's Age of Revolution

How did Christianity grow into an international faith that shaped the world as we know it? Rome’s Age of Revolution corrects the triumphalist narrative that the Christian message was so persuasive, and indeed superior, that people converted in huge numbers, abandoning their pagan beliefs, thereby turning a small, persecuted sect into the state religion of the Roman Empire. Tim Whitmarsh shows that Christianity would never have succeeded if it had not taken advantage of the infrastructure and culture of the Roman Empire; in turn the new religion was indelibly shaped and transformed by Roman beliefs and ideas, especially those circulating in the Greek-speaking, or Hellenistic, eastern parts of the empire. This radical transformation, Tim argues, can only be described as a revolution. And the consequences are with us to this day. ‘Remarkable … A joy to read’ JOSEPHINE QUINN, author of How the World Made the West ‘Dazzling … Will change how you see Rome, and Christianity, for ever’ CATHERINE NIXEY, author of Heresy 'One of the most important books on ancient history in many years’ HARRY SIDEBOTTOM, author of Warrior of Rome © Tim Whitmarsh 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026