Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World

As a ravenously obsessed fan of "The Rest Is History" podcast, I went down the rabbit hole searching for books written by the podcast’s two exceptional historians, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook. This unparalleled duo both possess an incredible breadth of historical knowledge that is as impressive as it is thought-provoking, always inspiring me to learn more. It was looking through their work that led me to read Dominion, a book that has profoundly reshaped my understanding of history. The genius of its premise lies in Tom Holland’s ability to identify and articulate a shaping force so pervasive in Western civilization that it could only be recognized by a truly astute scholar. Holland argues that Christianity has not only been the primary influence on the West, but also that its impact continues to shape our modern world. The book masterfully weaves together the threads that form the tapestry of Western thought, demonstrating how Christianity’s influence is both deep and wide-ranging. Ambitious in its scope, Dominion traces the historical thread of Christianity, beginning with the Bible and continuing through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and beyond, chronicling the path Christianity has carved from antiquity to our contemporary culture. Holland’s unique vantage point, informed by a lifetime dedicated to the study of classical and ancient history, allows him to explore the causes and effects of Christianity’s influence. This book stands out not only as a well-researched and significant scholarly achievement but also as an accessible read for anyone interested in understanding our past—and, by extension, our present. Its insights shed a unique and important light on both our history and our current times. To me, reading Dominion was a transformative experience which both deepened my understanding of the world and at times shattering prior assumptions I long took for granted. For these reasons and more, I consider this book a truly unmissable read.

I bought this thinking it was a different book to his UK version of a similar name. It's not, though it has a nicer contents page. Tom Holland is objective. The book itself was in pristine condition.

O livro é bom, porque deixa claro que o Cristianismo teve um impacto sem igual no mundo. Nossa moralidade sexual, compaixão e direitos naturais são heranças cristãs. O problema do livro é que o autor nem sequer tenta separar suas avaliações de sua visão de mundo progressista. Critica a condenação de Paulo às relações homossexuais como hipócrita, ataca Donald Trump com base em alegações progressistas e exalta as militâncias de esquerda americanas. O livro não perderia nada sem isso. Pelo contrário, a avaliação teria sido bem mais imparcial e séria sem as opiniões políticas do autor.

Excellent book, well documented.

This is an enlightening read.