The Roman Revolution

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.

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.

The Roman Revolution is a profound and unconventional treatment of a great theme - the fall of the Republic and the decline of freedom in Rome between 60 BC and AD 14, and the rise to power of the greatest of the Roman Emperors, Augustus. The transformation of state and society, the violent transference of power and property, and the establishment of Augustus' rule are presented in an unconventional narrative, which quotes from ancient evidence, refers seldomly to modern authorities, and states controversial opinions quite openly. The result is a book which is both fresh and compelling.

The Roman Revolution is a profound and unconventional treatment of a great theme - the fall of the Republic and the decline of freedom in Rome between 60 BC and AD 14, and the rise to power of the greatest of the Roman Emperors, Augustus. The transformation of state and society, the violent transference of power and property, and the establishment of Augustus' rule are presented in an unconventional narrative, which quotes from ancient evidence, refers seldomly to modern authorities, and states controversial opinions quite openly. The result is a book which is both fresh and compelling.