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Here is a recent book about the rise of Christianity by Alice Roberts. I have not read the book, but here are a few comments about this potentially interesting book: “Domination is widely regarded as engaging, well-written, and insightful, especially for readers interested in archaeology and the transformation of the Roman world. Its biggest strengths are narrative clarity and material-culture analysis. Its biggest weaknesses stem from its humanist framing, occasional polemical tone, and limited scholarly depth. Roberts approaches the rise of Christianity like a scientist: tracing ecclesiastical centers, material culture, and linguistic clues to reconstruct how Christianity spread across the former Roman world. This method is praised as fresh and rigorous. Some reviewers note that Roberts writes beautifully about physical objects—lamps, buildings, bells—and how they reveal cultural change. This object-centered storytelling is considered one of the book’s standout strengths. Roberts avoids treating Christianity as a monolithic entity, instead emphasizing local actors, parishes, and elite families who shaped its spread. Roberts’ thesis is that Christianity dominated the Roman world because it: -Won over the elite, not the masses. [A point I disagree with.] Christianity spread upward—into the Roman elite—not downward Roberts challenges the traditional narrative that Christianity grew mainly among the poor or marginalized. Instead, she argues that its early adopters were disproportionately urban, educated, and wealthy Romans, including soldiers and administrators. This gave the movement access to influence, patronage, and political protection. This is a major theme: Christianity succeeded because it penetrated the Empire’s power structures early, not because it was inherently more compelling than other religions. -Christianity benefited from imperial endorsement at key moments. -Christianity became an economic powerhouse. Roberts emphasizes that the Church quickly developed: moneymaking enterprises charitable distribution systems control over education and healthcare. According to Roberts, wealthy families shifted their civic giving from cities to churches, Christianity absorbed the social-welfare functions that once defined Roman civic life. This institutional strength helped it outcompete pagan cults. -Christianity replaced the Empire’s civic functions as Rome declined: Christianity adopted Roman provincial divisions, inherited bureaucratic structures, and filled the vacuum left by collapsing civic institutions -Used material culture, organization, and power—not theology—to expand.” I have not read this book, but it did get my attention. I might find this book especially interesting because it uses material culture (mosaics, coins, inscriptions, symbols, burial practices, etc.) as evidence of Christianity’s expansion. https://independentaustralia.net/life/art-display/book-review-domination--the-fall-of-the-roman-empire-and-the-rise-of-christianity,20966 https://www.indiependent.co.uk/book-review-domination-alice-roberts/