The Roman Revolution

The Roman Revolution examines the Crisis of the Third Century, when invasion, epidemic disease, civil war and rapid imperial turnover brought Roman government close to disintegration. Nick Holmes follows the pressure exerted by Sasanian Persia and northern peoples, the capture of Valerian, the formation of the Gallic and Palmyrene breakaway empires, and the efforts of Gallienus and Aurelian to preserve and reunify Roman territory.

The second half follows Diocletian and Constantine as they reorganised taxation, administration and military command and transformed the basis of imperial rule. The rapid growth of Christianity is central to the argument, from persecution under the Tetrarchy to Constantine’s patronage and the foundation of Constantinople. The empire that emerged was more centralised, militarised and Christian than the classical principate it replaced.