{"product_id":"romes-age-of-revolution-augustus-empire-and-the-making-of-christianity-9781847925350","title":"Rome's Age of Revolution: Augustus, Empire and the Making of Christianity","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe compelling, provocative account of how the Christian religion conquered the Roman Empire and how Rome in turn shaped Christianity- it's the story of how religion and politics combined to lay the foundations for the Western world.  How did Christianity, starting out as a minor offshoot of Judaism, 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. The consequences are with us to this day.\u003ch4\u003eDetails\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eISBN13: 9781847925350\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFormat: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumber of Pages: 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdition: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication Date: 30 Jun 2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher: Vintage Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication City, Country: London, United Kingdom\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions (cm): 23.3(H)x15.3(L)x2.6(W)418\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight (gm): 418\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h4\u003eTim Whitmarsh is Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge, working on all areas of Greek literature and culture with a particular emphasis on Greeks under the Roman Empire and religion and atheism in the ancient world. He is the author of Battling the Gods, which was shortlisted from the Runciman Award, the London Hellenic Prize and the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize and has been translated into Dutch, Greek and Chinese.\u003ch4\u003eReviews\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cb\u003eDazzling\u003c\/b\u003e. This \u003cb\u003ethrilling\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eelegantly written\u003c\/b\u003e book \u003cb\u003ewill change how you see Rome, and Christianity, for ever\u003c\/b\u003e -- Catherine Nixey, author of Heresy\u003cbr\u003eThis \u003cb\u003eremarkable\u003c\/b\u003e book \u003cb\u003eredefines early Christianity\u003c\/b\u003e, finally situating its leaders, believers, and martyrs within rather than against the Roman Empire. More than persecution Rome provided the Jesus movement with the models, opportunities, and infrastructure it needed to thrive. \u003cb\u003eA joy to read\u003c\/b\u003e, it \u003cb\u003esparkles with new insights and ideas\u003c\/b\u003e that challenge the reader to rethink Roman as well as Christian history. As they come closer together both Romans and Christians become stranger and more interesting -- Josephine Quinn, author of How the World Made the West\u003cbr\u003eNobody understands the psychology and ethnic complexity of late antiquity like Tim Whitmarsh. This \u003cb\u003eriveting \u003c\/b\u003eread offers \u003cb\u003eincisive, nuanced and stylishly written\u003c\/b\u003e explanations for the extraordinary and rapid spread of Christian beliefs throughout the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. A period of unprecedented intellectual and spiritual ferment that still has ramifications today is brought to vivid life. \u003cb\u003eEssential reading\u003c\/b\u003e -- Edith Hall, author of Aristotle's Way\u003cbr\u003eTim Whitmarsh's \u003ci\u003eRome's Age of Revolution \u003c\/i\u003elocates early Christianity in its contexts of the Greek East, Augustus' revolution, and the early rule of the emperors. \u003cb\u003eWritten with style and wit, it makes us rethink everything we know about the rise of Christianity\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cb\u003e Strikingly origina\u003c\/b\u003el, \u003cb\u003eprovocative \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003ewonderfully enjoyable,\u003c\/b\u003e it is \u003cb\u003eone of the most important books on the ancient history in many years\u003c\/b\u003e -- Harry Sidebottom, author of Those Who Are About to Die\u003cbr\u003eThis \u003cb\u003edazzling\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003erefreshingly innovative\u003c\/b\u003e book \u003cb\u003ereframes the origins of Christianity\u003c\/b\u003e through the cultural and political shockwaves of Augustan imperialism. With remarkable intellectual range, clarity, and verve, Whitmarsh shows how Greek-speaking eastern Roman Empire did not merely receive Christianity but actively forged its instincts, arguments, and ambitions – forever changing how we think about the entanglement of empire, culture and early Christianity -- Candida Moss, author of God's Ghostwriters\u003cbr\u003eA \u003cb\u003ebrilliantly original \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003edeeply engaging \u003c\/b\u003ereinterpretation of Christianity’s earliest centuries. With \u003cb\u003eastonishing range and clarity\u003c\/b\u003e, Whitmarsh places the rise of the Jesus movement within the sweeping cultural transformation created by Augustan Rome and shows how early believers operated within the networks, cities and intellectual life of the empire. \u003ci\u003eRome’s Age of Revolution\u003c\/i\u003e is a \u003cb\u003ebold, learned and compelling\u003c\/b\u003e book; quite simply, it is \u003cb\u003ehistory writing at its very best\u003c\/b\u003e -- Bruce Gordon, author of The Bible\u003cbr\u003eThe intricate relationship between early Christianity, Greek culture and the Roman Empire, is \u003cb\u003eexpertly articulated\u003c\/b\u003e in this \u003cb\u003ethoughtful \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003ebeautifully written \u003c\/b\u003ebook. Full of new insights and careful in its treatment of difficult and ambiguous evidence, this book is \u003cb\u003epowerful and fascinating throughout\u003c\/b\u003e -- Andrew Pettegree, author of The Book at War\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eRome's Age of Revolution\u003c\/i\u003e is an \u003cb\u003eintellectually exciting, challenging and important\u003c\/b\u003e examination of the early years of Christianity. Whitmarsh's nuanced and rigorous demonstration of the connections between the physical, cultural and philosophical structures of the Roman empire and those of the emerging Christian religion offer a whole new way to view Christians as an integrated part of the whole, multifaceted ancient Mediterranean world -- Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women\u003cbr\u003eWell-written and \u003cb\u003egreatly enjoyable\u003c\/b\u003e, thought-provoking and convincing. This is \u003cb\u003ea book which deserves a wide readership\u003c\/b\u003e -- Philip Matyszak, author of Rome Before Rome\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eIntelligent and eminently readable\u003c\/b\u003e … This is an insightful and subtly argued book ... \u003cb\u003eI enjoyed it immensely\u003c\/b\u003e -- Levi Roach * Literary Review *","brand":"Tim Whitmarsh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48926792515801,"sku":"9781847925350","price":36.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0502\/9530\/8441\/files\/9781847925350.jpg?v=1783736249","url":"https:\/\/www.arielbooks.com.au\/products\/romes-age-of-revolution-augustus-empire-and-the-making-of-christianity-9781847925350","provider":"Ariel","version":"1.0","type":"link"}