Summary of Erin Vearncombe, Brandon Scott & Hal Taussig's After Jesus Before Christianity

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Sample Book Insights:

#1 The crucifixion of Jesus is the most obvious example of the violence at the heart of Roman rule. Romans crucified hundreds of thousands of those they conquered, and such government crucifixions were intentionally undertaken as public torture and terrorism.

#2 The city of Rome’s domination began and ended with military conquest. Roman generals regularly raped enemy soldiers who survived their battles, and Roman citizens were not tortured, but no legal protections prevented conquered peoples from being tortured.

#3 The Roman Empire was built on, and grew by, enslaving more and more people. Slavery was everywhere in Roman society, from the government to private individuals.

#4 The Romans were a conquering empire that pillaged the art of Greece, the ancient treasures of Egypt, the silver mines in Spain, and the countryside from North Africa to Britain. But they were never satisfied. They always took tribute from conquered nations.