Rome's Age of Revolution

“Elegant and persuasive. . . . A striking exploration of the spread, influence and character of early Christianity. It’s a work whose subtlety and complexity are belied by its simple title . . . it has a Hobsbawm-like clarity and vigor. Few books I’ve read have set out the tangled relationships of belief, linguistic and ethnic inheritance, social convention, state power and historical incident in the religion’s first centuries so pointedly and temperately.” —Paul Elie, The New York Times Book Review

“Tim Whitmarsh’s Rome’s Age of Revolution locates early Christianity in its contexts of the Greek East, Augustus’ revolution, and the early rule of the emperors. Written with style and wit, it makes us rethink everything we know about the rise of Christianity. Strikingly original, provocative and wonderfully enjoyable, it is one of the most important books on the ancient history in many years.” —Harry Sidebottom, author of Those Who Are About to Die

“This dazzling, refreshingly innovative book reframes the origins of Christianity 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

“Thoroughly entertaining. . . . Whitmarsh’s argument is striking. Some may find it enraging. . . . Rome’s Age of Revolution shows that Christianity was in many ways a product of the Roman empire and the Greek and Jewish cultures it absorbed as it expanded eastward. Christianity might have become a global religion without Rome, but it would not be the same religion.” —The Economist

“A masterclass in tracing the swirl [of ancient cultures] through language, translation, and narrative. [Christianity], like the empire itself, repays close looking, and so does this book.” —Molly Judd, The Jacobin

“What stands out from Whitmarsh’s analysis is that a religion that has ‘In the beginning was the word’ as the opening line of one of its core texts flourished because it emerged at a time when disseminating the word was easier than ever before.” —Patrick Kidd, The Times (London)

“Tim Whitmarsh’s new book is an estimable achievement, learned and incisive, but also accessible. He sets the emergence of early Christianity in a wider context, that of the Roman empire and the imperialism of the Augustan age, finding connections and overlappings that few have called attention to, including the role played by the networks of Roman roads, a new sense of time and space, the all encompassing and unifying imperial authority that helped to engender Christian universalism, the influence of Stoicism, the dispersal of the Greek language, the traditions of oracular, prophetic, and messianic pronouncements, the centrality of Pauline letters, the impact of a writing culture, the effect of martyr narratives, especially fictive or fabricated ones, all in all a rich and engrossing mixture, Whitmarsh at his best.” —Erich S. Gruen, Wood Professor of History and Classics, Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley

“Nobody understands the psychology and ethnic complexity of the Greek world of the Roman Empire like Tim Whitmarsh. This riveting read offers incisive, nuanced and stylishly written explanations for the extraordinary and rapid spread of Christian beliefs throughout the Empire’s eastern provinces. A period of unprecedented intellectual and spiritual ferment that still has ramifications today is brought to vivid life. Essential reading.” —Edith Hall, author of Aristotle’s Way

“Whitmarsh offers a panoramic view of the literary production of early Christianity, read against an extraordinary range of contemporary texts in Latin and Greek, all circulating within a world shaped by Roman power. Balanced and scholarly, this account seeks to weigh what was new against what was conventional, looking beyond traditional narratives of opposition, persecution and Christian triumph.” —Greg Woolf, author of Rome: An Empire’s Story

“The intricate relationship between early Christianity, Greek culture and the Roman Empire is expertly articulated in this thoughtful and beautifully written book. Full of new insights and careful in its treatment of difficult and ambiguous evidence, this book is powerful and fascinating throughout.” —Andrew Pettegree, author of The Book at War

“How did the intersection of Roman rule, Greek culture, and Judaean tradition create an environment that fostered the growth of—and also shaped—the “Jesus movement?” . . . A brilliant look at an epochal moment, with intriguing and illuminating connections to the present day. . . . Blending historical, philosophical, linguistic, and literary scholarship, Whitmarsh infuses the past with life, providing a fresh view. . . . Lucid, lively prose, as well as clear organization, astute political analysis, and historical depth offer wide appeal.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)