This is the story of Christianity from an agnostic perspective, although to be honest I don't know how anyone who knows church history can remain agnoThis is the story of Christianity from an agnostic perspective, although to be honest I don't know how anyone who knows church history can remain agnostic for long. What can possibly explain the survival of the Church through the persecution of Rome, the challenges of the heretics, the collapse of the Empire, the rise of Islam, various reforms and schisms, world wars, and the rise of unbelief except for divine power? Those who think the Church is finally on its way out are quite mistaken if the last two thousand years are anything to go by. The cross is the symbol of the weak and despised things of the world overcoming the strong, and its power reverberates through the ages and will until the end of time. He shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth....more
Decent if you're looking for a cursory overview of some of Rome's more famous emperors and probably best experienced as an audio book. Definitely coulDecent if you're looking for a cursory overview of some of Rome's more famous emperors and probably best experienced as an audio book. Definitely could have benefited from a better editing job - several times I became more focused on how Strauss was writing a sentence or paragraph than what he was writing. And of course, the shoehorned feminist takes on Roman history were distracting, speculative, and at times downright silly, such as this gem: "Assertive manliness, supported by women on the home front, won Rome its empire. Yet now the point was to defend the empire, not to expand it. Strength and prowess were less important than intelligence and calculation. Only societal prejudice and the rigors of childbirth kept women from competing on an equal footing." Sure the Roman army was responsible for the existence and glory of the empire, but you know what really would have made Rome great? Feminism! No, the actual story Strauss tells when he's not preaching belies the narrative he is trying to promote, and it would be quite funny if it wasn't so indicative of why our own civilization is falling into ruin. ...more
An excellent overview of many of the major Greek (and Roman) myths - this would make a great reference book, with its short yet engaging summaries. AnAn excellent overview of many of the major Greek (and Roman) myths - this would make a great reference book, with its short yet engaging summaries. And I dare say a reference is needed when it comes to these myths - there's so many names and genealogies that it's hard to keep track (I already feel the need to re-read this at some point). Now I want to read The Penguin Book of Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt, so hopefully I will be able to convince my library to purchase it!...more
I originally picked this up because I wanted to learn more about Babylon, given its prominence in Scripture and its potential to be major inspiration I originally picked this up because I wanted to learn more about Babylon, given its prominence in Scripture and its potential to be major inspiration for my own world-building. Unfortunately, this just didn't do it for me. Somehow it managed to be both boring and annoying - boring because it was mostly concerned with prehistory or very early history, and thus there isn't that much to talk about, and annoying because the author tried to fill in the gaps with his own (or similarly-minded colleagues') opinions, revealing that he has a very low view of Scripture. I know that's probably to be expected, but he seemed to enjoy reminding the reader of this every couple of pages - and it got ridiculous after a while, to the point that he was claiming that Solomon's wealth wasn't really his, but was really reflective of an Assyrian king's. History, especially really old history, is dependent on its interpreter - and Kriwaczek just isn't a good interpreter, at least not for someone who takes the biblical record seriously....more
I've been reading a lot about Rome this year, but most of the books I've read so far have to do with the Republic. Dynasty gave me a glimpse into whatI've been reading a lot about Rome this year, but most of the books I've read so far have to do with the Republic. Dynasty gave me a glimpse into what Rome was like after the Republic fell and the emperors reigned supreme. Holland only covers the first five Julio-Claudian emperors (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero), but that's a good thing - it makes the narrative much more manageable to read through (especially if you're a beginning reader on this topic like me) and allows Holland to really be able to paint portraits of these five men and the times they lived in. (As a warning, Rome during this period could be quite violent and debauched, and the book includes some of that - so it's not for younger readers). Despite that, I found this an interesting read and I hope Holland writes more about other Roman emperors someday.
It's so ironic that even as emperors were claiming to be gods, the real Son of God was walking around on earth in a Roman province. And the Roman emperors would never have dreamed about this small and weird cult called Christianity taking over their invincible Empire, but it did! And it has proved far more long-living than even ancient Rome. That's the power of the King of kings (and emperors)....more
Rubicon narrates exactly what its subtitle suggests: the last years of the Roman Republic. I've already read SPQR: A History of Ancient RomeSPQR: A HiRubicon narrates exactly what its subtitle suggests: the last years of the Roman Republic. I've already read SPQR: A History of Ancient RomeSPQR: A History of Ancient Rome and Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell into Tyranny, so I was already familiar with the general gist, but it was good to read yet another perspective of it. Holland is an excellent writer, and he's more interested in telling a good story than he is in trying to separate fact from embellishment (and he says as much in his introduction). Of course, there's a time and place for the latter, but the advantage of Holland's narrative is that it is closer to what the Romans and their descendants believed about their own history - which, to me, is far more interesting and compelling than what a modern-day historian believes about it. All in all, this is a very well-written narrative and a fascinating glance into Roman history, even if it is not afraid to show the crass or vulgar side of Roman politics at times.
As for the history itself, the lengths these men went to to obtain or keep power (putting their fellow citizens, and eventually the whole world, into turmoil in the process) kept reminding me of the verse "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" And yet, underneath all these maneuverings is the quiet hand of Providence, turning history however He pleases to prepare the way for another King born in the days of Caesar Augustus. That's something Julius Caesar could never have seen coming! ...more
Overall a good and engaging overview of Rome from its founding to 200ish AD (although the strictly geo-political analysis fades after the reign of AugOverall a good and engaging overview of Rome from its founding to 200ish AD (although the strictly geo-political analysis fades after the reign of Augustus and the more cultural elements take over in the latter part of the book). As someone who doesn't know a ton about ancient Rome, I found this to be a good introduction or foundation to build off of. My only significant complaint is that Beard is embarrassingly ignorant of early Christianity (Christian orthodoxy remained fluid for more than two centuries and we don't know much about the early Christians, really?) But that takes up only a small section in an otherwise solid book....more
Another of WORLD's recommendations. Watts gives a succinct, well-paced play-by-play of how the Roman Republic gradually deteriorated as power-hungry mAnother of WORLD's recommendations. Watts gives a succinct, well-paced play-by-play of how the Roman Republic gradually deteriorated as power-hungry men, made wealthy by Rome's conquests, stretched the bounds of the law for their personal benefit. Eventually, the frayed Republic came to be at the mercy of such men, and the civil wars fought in the 100s BC were more a question of who would become tyrant rather than whether the republic could survive. The details of that broad timeline are fascinating, and Watts does an excellent job at telling the story. The only caveat I'd give is that the reader needs to have a broad idea of Rome's history, as that makes the flow of the book easier to understand and puts events in context....more
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