alternatehistory.com

As many of you no doubt are aware, the Romans had primitive steam engines going back to the first century BC. However, they never really made anything of them. So here's my alternate history idea:

1. The early church condemns slavery far more stridently than She historically did.

2. For this reason, Christians are persecuted more harshly than historically.

3. Thus, when St. Constantine finally adopts Christianity, paganism is stronger than historically, and it remains so for some time.

4. When Christianity comes to dominate the empire, slavery is outlawed.

5. Deprived of a key source of chief labor, the Romans are forced to innovate. They improve on Hero's aeropile and the Industrial Revolution begins in the 4th Century AD.

That's about as far as I've gotten definitively, but I have visions of a steampunk Rome seriously curbstomping some barbarians. Thoughts?
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