Links for Chapter 6
The Revolutionary Rabbi: Christianity, the Roman Empire, and
Islam, 4 B.C. to A.D. 1453
On Early Christianity
From Jesus to Christ: materials related to a PBS show.
The Jewish-Roman World of Jesus: specific short articles on Jews and Judaism, as well as the Christian and Roman competing cultures.
On the Fall of Rome
Some (Sometimes Silly) Explanations for the Fall of Rome: a simple list, but interesting and amusing.
Gibbons's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: the classic “Big Book on Rome” in an online version.
Rome Didn't Fall When You Think It Did. Here's Why That Fabricated History Still Matters Today: essay about how periodization oversimplifies.
No, Really, Are We Rome? History suggests that corrosive change can be hard to see while it’s happening. essay by Cullen Murphy in light of the January 6, 20021 insurrection.
The road from Rome: essay on how the fall of Rome was a good thing for Westen and World Civilization.
On the Rise of Islam
Islamic History: links to resources on Islam.
MidEast Web's Concise History of Islam and the Arabs: brief history and some links.
Islam and Islamic Studies Resources: a professor's site with much information, especially about moderate Islam.