Domination

This is the story of the fall of an Empire – and the rise of another.

Who spread Christianity, how, and why? In her quest to find the answer, Professor Alice Roberts takes us on a gripping investigative journey. From a secluded valley in south Wales to the shores of Brittany; from the heart of the Roman Empire in a time of political turmoil to the ancient city of Corinth in the footsteps of the apostle Paul; from Alexandria in the fourth century to Constantinople.

As the Roman Empire crumbled in Western Europe, a shadow of power remained, almost perfectly mapping onto its disappearing territories. And then, it continued to spread. Unearthing the archaeological clues and challenging long-established histories, Professor Roberts tells a remarkable story about the relationship between the Roman Empire and Christianity.

Lifting the veil on secrets that have been hidden in plain sight, this story is nothing short of astonishing.

Domination is a page-turning exploration of power and its survival.

Review

'The story of how the Roman Empire became the Christian Empire has never been better explained. Alice Roberts's narrative energy and readability makes Domination a historical thriller of the highest quality' -- Stephen Fry

‘An incisive, provocative and sometimes polemical account of one of the most important organisations in human history’ -- New Scientist

‘Domination blasts new light into the seemingly dark moments when Christianity emerged as the predominant religion of empires. Sweeping across texts, objects, individuals, and putting material culture and archaeological revelations centre stage, this is an epic reevaluation of a time that still defines so many across the world to the present day. Robert’s captivating writing takes you on a journey back through time, unravelling mysteries by plunging into the earth to see the echoes left by people, their beliefs and their systems of power' -- Janina Ramirez

‘A wonderfully accessible slice of archaeological history’ -- i

About the Author

Professor Alice Roberts is an academic, author and broadcaster, specialising in human anatomy, physiology, evolution, archaeology and history. In 2001, Alice made her television debut on Channel 4's Time Team, and went on to write and present The Incredible Human Journey, Origins of Us and Ice Age Giants on BBC2. She is also the presenter of the popular TV series Digging for Britain. Alice has been a Professor of Public Engagement with Science at the University of Birmingham since 2012.