The Roman Revolution: Crisis and Christianity in Ancient Rome

Fall of the Roman Empire Book #1

by Nick Holmes

It was the fall before the fall.

The Roman Revolution describes the little known “crisis of the third century”. Long before the collapse of the Roman Empire in the fifth century, in the years between AD 235-275, barbarian invasions, civil war and plague devastated ancient Rome. Out of this ordeal, a revolutionary new order arose.

Nick Holmes challenges conventional thinking, suggesting that the classical Roman Empire ‘fell’ as early as the third century when it was replaced by a radical new Christian Roman Empire, ruled from Constantinople. He presents the near collapse of the Roman Empire in the third century as a world-changing event. It was the first step in the history of the Fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the modern world.

This book is the first of a four-volume series that will chart the full course of the Fall of the Roman Empire. The second book, due out in 2023, will cover the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century. The last two books will look at the Roman reconquest of Italy and North Africa under the Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, followed by the rise of Islam and the demise of the Eastern Roman Empire in the seventh century.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Roman History, Audiobook, Ancient, Ebooks

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2022

About the author

Hello, I'm a British author, podcaster, and historian, and welcome to my series of books on the Fall Of The Roman Empire. My passion is Roman history. I've wandered among the ruins of the Roman Forum and wondered what happened to this great civilisation? I've stared into the dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and reflected on how the Roman Empire lasted for centuries after Rome itself was sacked, even when its capital moved to Constantinople. So, I've embarked on writing the full account of this momentous time.

Immerse yourself in this incredible story. It may surprise you to find that those events so long ago are strangely relevant to our modern times, from the changing climate to religion, and from war to peace. Let us listen to the voices from the past.

And if you like podcasts, try mine "The Fall of the Roman Empire", which accompanies my books, and please check out my website which offers a free book and much more at www.nickholmesauthor.com

Reviews

[Mike Nardine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does not drag or labor

Throughly enjoyed the book. Does not drag or labor attempting profundity, but shows what happened clearly and concisely and allows us to come to our own conclusions.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read and very informative.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent narrative full of energy and reading like a novel.

[Larry (LPosse1) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Roman Revolution: Crisis and Christianity in Ancient Rome by Nick Holmes – 5 Stars

What a great book! Holmes has a gift for writing history that flows like a narrative, making it both compelling and deeply informative. I especially loved the opening chapters, which provide a clear and engaging overview of Rome from its founding through the age of Marcus Aurelius.

For me, Holmes is a major new voice in ancient history—at least new to my reading—and one I’ll be following closely. This book, along with the future volumes in the series, promises to shed light on some of the least-covered and most fascinating areas of Roman history. Along the way, I learned many new things and made connections that deepened my understanding of the period.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in Rome, early Christianity, or simply looking for a fresh and accessible perspective on the ancient world. Can’t wait to jump into his other books on Kindle Unlimited!

[Willy · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Roman Revolution: Crisis and Christianity in Ancient Rome’ is a great yet brief look at the Crisis of the Third Century within the Roman Empire from the perspective of the Emperors and the military. I really enjoyed the crisp and brief writing of Holmes in this, with it being very easy to understand, despite the complexity of the Roman world at the time, with there being dozens of Emperors in short succession. Despite these positives, I don’t think it went into enough depth about the intricacies of this period, though this is probably because of the lack of source material. Overall, a great read that I’d recommend as an introductory source to Rome in the 3rd Century.

[P.M. Allen-Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping read

This book is so easy to read, it leads you through history as if it were yesterday. I learned and understood so much while reading the short straightforward chapters. Not an academic tome, but not lightweight either. The author tells you what you need to know, what is interesting, essential to know as well as contemporary comparisons. A fascinating backdrop to the historical Jesus, the life and times of early Christianity.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise and Clear

Amazing narrative backed up with annotations from various sources. A good read and reference. I would recommend this book to anyone with a brain stem that could appreciate reality based topics. No dragons and fictional characters herd.

[Lonnie Visintainer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is basically a birds eye view of the Roman Empire from its founding to the rise of Constantinople. He covers around 500 years, with a slightly deeper overview of the 300 years leading up to Constantine's founding of Constantinople. There's a lot of information given to you very rapidly. It's very heavy on information related to Roman Politics and Warfare and briefly discusses tactics related to Rome's dominance on the battlefield. If you're looking for a deep dive, this is not it, but if you're looking to get a basic grasp on the major events that made and unmade Rome, this is an excellent read. One thing I liked is the authors explanation of how multiple factors like the climate, the fall of the Greek states, and other various things came together to assist in Romes rise, it wasn't all due to Rome's effectiveness in combat and need to conquer as most of us think. It makes you realize how the smallest things can make or break empires. I would recommend it for those who can keep up with the fast pacing.

[Tim Burchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

great survey of mid to late Roman Empire

Engaging read, felt disappointed that there wasnt more about Christianity and its impact on Rome, which was strongly suggested by the sub-title

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and readable, although I’d question the liberal use of Edward Gibbon quotes. It covers several centuries of history so that may have been for expediency. The book gets much better in the second half when it covers the crisis of the 3rd century.

I also took notes on several things when I wondered to myself “is that true?” One example is an extensive passage about the Marian reforms, which more recent scholarship says weren’t a real thing.

[Spen Cer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An academic takedown of an intriguing part of our collective history. Not for everyone I’m sure. But as I was in Rome this past summer, this stuff is interesting to me.

[Colin McCleery · Rating 4 out of 5]

update of Gibbon

A remarkable work, taking into account historical effects of climate change during this interglacial period, mostly ignored by other historians. It should be required reading for all believers that climate change is solely anthropogenic. The Dark Ages in Europe coincided with the end of the Roman warm period (repeated world-wide) and the start of the medieval warm period.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lively and entertaining book about the beginning of the fall of the Roman Empire. Its short length makes it a quick read, and it never goes overboard with the details and information, meaning it would be a good starting point for readers with little knowledge of the Roman Empire. On the negative side, I found it quite repetitive, with various details being regurgitated several times throughout the course of the book. I get the need for repetition on occasion, but for me, this was slightly too much and took me out of the narrative. Also, as someone who was already somewhat familiar with the fall of the Roman Empire, I found it a bit light on the details, as it’s very much a whistle stop tour of this period in history rather than a deep dive. This isn’t a fault of the book per say, it just wasn’t really what I was looking for. So a bit of a mixed bag overall for me, but a decent enough read nonetheless.

[Rey]

The Roman Revolution: Crisis and Christianity in Ancient Rome (The Fall of the Roman Empire Book 1)

Although the book reads comfortably, it was not as focused as I had hoped, as it is written in very broad strokes. I believe it earned four stars, as it came with maps, illustrations and pictures, which I really appreciated

I ended up returning the book about 30% in, something I rarely do, although I might pick it up again at some point. The author does do a fine job of presenting the overarching history, just a little too faced paced

For now I felt my time could be better spent with a deeper approach to the Roman era, with another Adrian Goldsworthy book to follow

My thanks to the author, it was well done

[Ben Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s clear that Holmes is biased against and largely ignorant of Christianity (e.g., Holmes’ erroneous claim that St. Paul founded a new religion called Christianity); but in spite of that, this book (the first in a series of four) provides an engaging, clear, and concise overview of the Roman Empire, from its mythical founding to the rise of Constantine and the explosion of Christianity across the ancient world. Overall a good book that I recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the emergence of the Rome Empire and the high drama of ancient history more broadly (topics of vital importance today). I’m looking forward to completing the entire series over the coming weeks.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and accessible text that does not dwell with an interesting central thesis, that the Roman Empire emerged from the so-called "Crisis of the Third Century" as a fundamentally changed society with a stronger state, stronger military, stronger economy, and a binding new religion. Focusing on the Emperors Aurelian, Diocletian, and Constantine, Holmes focuses on how these three emperors arrested the decline of the Roman Empire and propelled it to a brief era of prosperity before the "fall".

[Allan Nemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good entry level book. I have read on this subject a bit but not extensively. If you are new to this subject then this book would be a good starting place. If something in particular strikes your fancy you can read up on it with other authors. Just remember there is a lot of research and writing on this subject, so don't depend on 1 author. Read a few different authors and viewpoints. Then make up your own mind.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to the later Roman empire.

This is a nice and concise introduction to the crisis of the third century. Would highly recommend it if you're interested in the later stages of the Western Roman Empire. The later books of this series focus more in the rise of the Eastern Romans (AKA Bizantine Empire)

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

I read a lot of history, especially ancient. This book is very helpful. It uses,new sources and sheds more light on ancient history. It creates a chronological history that is fascinating rather than boring. There are several things I did not know that shines a new light on the Roman Empire.

[Michael McCluskey]

Good History

A nice summary of Roman history with citations, many from primary sources. Secondary sources are generally accepted facts. Most important here - this is a great read. Novel-like in story-telling.

[Reid Champagne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before your trip to Rome and italy

This is a most readable overview of ancient Roman history, and a perfect guide for those wishing to "bone up" on Roman civilization before that trip of a lifetime to the Eternal City.

[Brayden Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straightforward and informational, while providing exciting mental imagery and written passionately. It maintains its credibility in its ability to clearly state various potential scenarios when information and evidence are inconclusive.

[Mick Maye · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating

This book highlights the troubles of the second century and the eventual triumph or conversion to Christianity under Constantine. It is a concise introduction to this period without the hyperbole of some writers. Very enjoyable.

[Czilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly succinct and readable synopsis of Roman history and the Crisis of the Third Century.

[William Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, Readable & very Informative

The author pulls my odds and ends of knowledgeable and coherent story, maps ae included. Will look for the next volume

[Rindis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick Holmes is doing a very good job writing a clear beginning-level series on Roman history. This also has the advantage of being recent (2022), and so has access recent findings.

There is one short chapter two-thirds of the way through titled "Climate Change" which talks about what fairly recent research has to say about the Roman Climate Optimum from 200 BC to AD 150, and how it seems to have helped Rome's rise, and how shifting climate trends after that added instability (he starts with a series of years where the Nile did not flood, or had a very weak flood in the 240s).

This was the highlight of the book for me, and if there'd been more chapters like it, I'd have been very happy with the book. However, it seems there are missed opportunities here. He talks about the Roman economy at times, and reference to The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean could have helped develop some arguments. That book has problems, but talking about the evident closing of the Iberian silver mines after the Antonine Plague would be valuable for Holmes' discussion of the Roman economy.

At the same time, Holmes is wanting to make a specific argument, and I just didn't feel like he ever got to really arguing it. A better feel for what he considers 'revolutionary', as opposed to 'evolutionary' would have helped (he doesn't use the latter term; part of his trouble is a lack of contrast against his thesis). The idea seems to be that the Crisis of the Third Century left Rome in a vulnerable place, and the way out (at least the one taken) was the 'revolutionary' measure of converting the Empire from Ancient paganism to Christianity. But there's not enough there on what that meant either.

Which is part of the other weakness: A real look at where Roman thought and culture had gone during the life of the Empire. He does address part of it, trying to unravel the rise of Christianity. But, he doesn't look at the other side. From other books (I don't remember which ones), it's been argued that paganism had hit a dead-end, with it becoming slowly clearer to the educated that the myths and mysteries associated with the old cults had no reality behind them. And there was nothing really to put in it's philosophical place. Other than those odd monotheists that is.

So, it's not really the reassessment of the Third Century Holmes says it is, but it is very readable, and does a good job presenting... too long of a period in a very readable format. To give background, Holmes goes back to the mythical founding of Rome and gives a quick view of how it got to a Mediterranean empire. But that is a lot of ground to cover, and so takes up a fair chunk of the book, no matter how abbreviated it is.

[A M Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brisk canter through Roman history in the 3rd and early 4th century. It is aimed at the non expert who wants to get better acquainted with the area.

Generally Nick Holmes editing and judgement are sound but at times he glosses over some important stuff. I think giving religious practice in the 3rd century only a few pages was a mistake as typical practice in 300AD was very different from say 200AD.

However it doesn't drag and Holmes is a decent guide through this period. I like how any popular historian takes on the 3rd century which is sadly neglected. I think he is right - Rome went through a huge crisis in the 3rd century due to a combination of diseases and noisy neighbours and the empire coped (only just) by becoming more militaristic, more bureaucratic, more Christian and less Roman. Emperors depended more on the support of the army and less on the support of the Senate.

[John E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New View of the Third Century Crisis of Rome

The Roman Empire, along with the Byzantine Empire, is unique in that it went through a period of decline but recovered to become a new and strong empire. Nick Holmes’ book focuses on the Empire’s crisis of the Third century. The author describes numerous causes of the decline, many not discussed by other historians. For example, Italy and North Africa experienced a drastic climate change in the Third Century which decreased grain production. Holmes concludes by discussing the Emperors who rescued Rome from decline and enabled it to emerge as a viable, if different, empire. Holmes tells his story in a readable and relatively short book. Many books discussing Rome exceed one thousand pages. This book is less than three hundred pages.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any book that purports to cover, in just over 200 pages, over three centuries of the history of one of the most magnificent and enduring empires ever to appear on Earth is bound to have its limitations. This one is no exception. Nonetheless, within these limitations, Holmes does a good job of recounting the crises of civil war, political assassinations, plague and barbarian invasion that beset the Roman Empire in the 3rd century. Holmes sees a "Roman Revolution" in the military and economic reforms of Diocletian, the shift of power to the East and Constantinople and the establishment of Christianity fostered by Constantine.

[Marvin L Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Roman Revolution

In my humble, an excellent review of early Roman history, updated and much shorter than from Gibbon. Stiil, if you are willing to make the commitment, and all big books are commitments, and you're interested in Roman history, you should read Gibbon. Also remember when reading any history, it's relayed to us by the winners, and the author adds a bit of their own bias. I enjoyed this read. I will continue the series.....