The third volume of Rossiter Johnson's comprehensive world history explores the vast and complex machinery of the Roman Empire, tracing its rise from a republic of intermittent conflicts to absolute imperial dominance under Augustus and his successors. The author examines the structure of the Augustan age, the nature of the Roman peace that governed the provinces for two centuries, and the internal decay that ultimately plunged the empire into anarchy and civil war.
A central focus of the volume is the rise and spread of Christianity, viewed both as a profound spiritual awakening and as a historical phenomenon deeply influenced by the Pax Romana. The narrative details the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ under Tiberius, the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul, and the first fierce persecutions under Nero, driven by the empire's suspicion of a faith that refused reverence to the traditional gods.
Simultaneously, the text recounts the military campaigns of Germanicus in the northern wilderness against the Germanic tribes led by Arminius, detailing the recovery of the lost eagles of Varus and the immense hardships endured by the Roman legions amid marshes and stormy seas. These frontier struggles highlight the growing menace of the barbarians who gradually exerted increasing pressure on the weakened imperial borders.
The volume pays particular attention to the great Jewish revolt, culminating in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and the final dispersion of the Jewish people. It details the reign of successive emperors, the chaotic turbulence of the military claimants, and the eventual administrative reforms of Diocletian and Constantine, who officially embraced Christianity and founded the new capital of Constantinople.
Concluding with the western migration of the Huns and the final division of the Roman Empire into eastern and western halves, the work provides a detailed account of the shifting powers of the ancient world. The narrative traces the path of civilization as it transitioned from classical antiquity toward the medieval era, marked by monumental changes in governance, religion, and society.
