One Nation, Under Jupiter: Rome Never Goes Christian (Updated)

Hey everyone.

A few months ago, I made a thread about a timeline I was working on where Rome never adopted Christianity as the state religion, which I'm currently working on a novel based on. It turns out going into too much detail for 1,700 years' worth of history was a little more work than I thought, especially when the book I'm making all this for is set in the present day and it's unlikely many medieval events would be brought up.

In its place, I've come up with a briefer (but complete) timeline, and I was hoping I could get some feedback to be sure everything sounded plausible.

Also, if you're wondering, the novel is coming along well. It's slow (and I have my doubts about some parts, but you know what Hemingway said about first drafts), but I'm getting there.

I'll start posting the timeline in the next post. It's pretty large, so be warned.
 
1065-1100 AUC
-Maxentius kills Constantine at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, becomes Emperor of Rome and resolves issues with Licinius.
-Maxentius (Western Europe and North Africa, Mediolanum), Licinius (Eastern Europe and Asia Minor, Nicomedia), and Maximinus II (Syria and Egypt, Antioch) partition the Roman Empire in three. All three Emperors vow to rid the Roman Empire of Christianity and Judaism, while simultaneously restoring faith in the gods of old. Christians convert, die, or flee to Persia. New temples are built, rituals are observed, the ban on Bacchanalia is lifted, and religious artwork is commissioned.
-Missionaries convert Goths and Axumites to Roman paganism. Axumite pantheon is absorbed into the Romans’. (Attar = Jupiter, Maher = Mars, Beher = Neptune)
-Like in OTL, Chandragupta begins the Gupta Dynasty, launching golden age of Indian culture.
-Licinius attempts to form a council of priests (both state-approved and unofficial) to resolve the numerous religious conflicts that have risen in the aftermath of Roman paganism’s revival. However, the council ultimately goes nowhere.
-Maxentius is stabbed to death in the Basilica of Maxentius by a helmeted assassin, likely due to the economic issues the Roman Empire faced due to his religious expenditures.

1100-1200 AUC
-Maxentius’ son Maxens dispatches priests to accommodate the Alemanni that recently invaded Gaul. Temples to Germanic gods (e.g.: Thor, Tyr, Odin) are built.
-An earthquake destroys Nicomedia, killing the Emperor and leaving the Eastern Empire temporarily without a government. This display of ira deorum incites religious terror. Roman citizens are rounded up by mobs and accused of impiety. This feeling of intense religiousness would remain with the citizens of the Eastern Empire.
-Maximinus’ son Galerianus sends priests to Armenia (still Christian), only for them to be killed. War commences between Rome and Armenia (with Persia as their ally). Galerianus suffers an early disadvantage but eventually storms the Armenian capital of Vagharshapat, forcing Armenia to submit to the Roman Empire and convert to the state religion.
-Galerianus then continues his campaign against Persia. Before they can attack the capital of Ctesiphon, King Shapur II surrenders, granting Rome control of Mesopotamia. Though Christianity and Zoroastrianism persist in Persia for the time being, the show of force from “the living god” leads to a rise in Roman paganism.
-Huns force Goths to relocate to the Eastern Roman Empire. Hoping to avoid the unruly behavior of the Goths in the West, Emperor Valens forces assimilation into Roman culture. Due to the fertile farmland of Mesopotamia, the Gothic War is averted, though Gothic unrest nevertheless occurs in both the West and East.
-Huns take control of the weakened Persia, bringing a premature end to the Golden Age of the Sassanid Empire. A Roman/Gothic army led by the general Flavius Theodosius enters Persia. Despite initial victories due to the Gothic forces, Theodosius soon questions the idea of expansion, welcoming more foreigners into Roman borders. Galerianus allows the Huns to stay in Persia, as long as they stay out of Rome, offer a yearly tribute, and honor their gods. Christianity is removed from Persia. The Hunnic god Tengri is now viewed as an analogue of Jupiter.
-With the Goths in a warlike mood once again, the Gothic general Alaric, after allegedly hearing the voice of the war god Tyr, fights against Roman subjection in Italy. A Roman force is defeated by Alaric, though the Goths suffer such heavy losses in the process that Alaric cannot take Mediolanum. The precedent is set that Rome is not invincible.
-The Sack of Rome occurs much as it did in the original timeline, including the sparing of church property.
-The need for manpower against the Goths leads to Roman troops evacuating Britain, essentially freeing Britain from Roman rule. Anglo-Saxons later invade Britain (the influence of Nordic paganism should be even stronger in Britain than the rest of Europe).
-Vandals take North Africa.

1200-1300 AUC
-With ample territory under Hunnic control, the Huns do not attempt to invade India. The Gupta Dynasty does not fall at the same time as it did in the OTL.
-Rome falls to barbarian invaders, much as it did in the original timeline. Without the fortified capital of Constantinople, the Eastern Empire falls shortly afterwards. The Roman Middle East survives.
-Clovis never converts to Christianity and unites the Franks. The region of Gaul is still called by that name (not France) in the present day.
-Without Christianity to provide a sense of unity in the aftermath of the fall of Rome, Europe spends the Dark Ages significantly more fractured than in the OTL. Roman paganism survives, though is heavily mixed with Nordic. (Jupiter wields Mjolnir, Mars fights frost giants, Odin is the father of the Lares, etc.)
-Huns begin taking after their Persian predecessors more. Although still very barbaric, the Huns have taken on a slightly more civilized manner.
-Roman missionaries begin entering Arabia.

1300-1400 AUC
-Without the Byzantine Empire, Turkic migration (Pechenegs, Bulgars, Khazars, etc.) spreads into Eastern Europe. Roman paganism slowly mixes with Tengrism even further.
-Roman Middle East (called RME from this point on) conquers North Africa. Missionaries are sent further south, mixing Roman paganism with African paganism. Black slavery becomes more commonplace, though slavery is still not a racial issue.
-Gupta Dynasty falls, though later than it did in OTL. During this time faith in Hinduism is intensely strengthened, to the point that Buddhism is all but extinct in the country.
-In the tribal town of Mecca, a man named Muhammad protests the Romans using faith to sway the Meccan elders. Muhammad calls for a rational society with no regard for gods of any kind, only to be murdered by Roman soldiers for his blasphemous views.
-RME eventually absorbs Arabia, Hubal and other Arabian gods added to Roman pantheon.
-Roman missionaries reach China for the first time, but are shunned. China sticks to its traditional religions (Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism), and also takes control of Eastern Turkistan.

1400-1500 AUC
-Europe begins forming into small states, each taking a different god as their patron. Tension between the nations increases.
-A Roman pagan city is built near Ghana.
-Ethiopian trade continues to prosper.
-Huns attempt to invade India, but are defeated. Hunnic power is weakening.

1500-1600 AUC
-China begins expanding westward, defeating the Huns and taking Eastern Persian territory. Chinese knowledge of paper spreads westward as a result. Persia is now an unusual mix of Roman paganism, Tengrism, and traditional Chinese religion.
-Roman paganism now exists in China, although its influence is negligible compared to traditional Chinese faiths.
-With access to more Western territory and libraries, the Chinese begin translating Greek/Persian/Sanskrit writings into Chinese.
-Middle Eastern missionaries go to Europe, attempting to restore Roman order and explain that the gods are all holy, and that the nations shouldn’t worship one at the expense of another. Europe’s states show more acknowledgement to the other gods, though they still each see their patron as the greatest.
-RME conducts trade with India. Hindu numerals are adopted by the RME, and the Hindu gods are absorbed into the Roman pantheon.
-Hunnic Persia crumbles, its territory divided among China and the Roman Middle East.

1600-1700 AUC
-Public Mithra worship in Europe begins to decline, although mystery cults still persist.
-Vikings begin invading and settling in Europe. Greco-Roman and Nordic paganism mix even further.
-Much like in real life, the Tang Dynasty collapses from within, leaving China as a group of fractured states. Turks begin collecting more influence in China, while becoming more interested in Chinese religion. Chinese scholarship weakens as a result.
-Roman paganism reaches Russia.

1700-1800 AUC
-Europe’s nations erupt into war with each other, partially fueled by religious differences. Roman paganism in Europe becomes more zealous and dogmatic as a result.
-Russians spread further eastward, among the Khazars and Bulgars.
-Turks spread into Mongolia.

1800-1900 AUC
-Normans remain in Gaul, never spreading to Italian territory. Normans also invade England, much as they did in the original timeline.
-Middle Eastern and Chinese scholars begin to meet, sharing their scientific and cultural knowledge. This mutual cooperation also leads to more religious tolerance between Rome and China, although neither fully accepts the other’s faith. Coffee reaches China, printing reaches the West.
-Turks attempt to expand further westward, though Europe’s hostile warlike environment proves unpleasant.
-Having never fallen to Islamic invaders, Ghana’s empire grows, expanding further into sub-Saharan Africa. A mixture of traditional Ghanaian religion (animistic, with the sky god Nyame and numerous lesser spirits) and Roman paganism spreads through Africa. Trade with the RME allows Ghana access to seaworthy timber, enabling the construction of a navy.
-Arabic unrest in the Roman Middle East begins.
-In hopes of reclaiming the land of the former Roman Empire, the RME enters the Balkans.

1900-2000 AUC
-With the Arabic and Turkic population growing, “True Romans” become a minority within the Roman Middle East. Racism begins taking hold.
-Genghis Khan takes control of most of China, much as he did in the OTL. Due to the Mongolians’ policy of religious tolerance, Roman paganism in China grows significantly.
-With no Pope for the crown to have a dispute with, Magna Carta is never signed, with England’s kings retaining absolute rule.

2000-2100 AUC
-Trade between China and the RME grows. RME gains access to firearms from China.
-With the benefit of more advanced weapons, the RME successfully invades and occupies much of Europe to the east of Gaul. Nearly all of the territory of the former Roman Empire is again under Roman control, if only briefly. The awe of witnessing these superior weapons leads to a cult of firearm worship growing in Europe.
-Again under Roman rule, tensions between European nations are more relaxed than before. The Hundred Years’ War never occurs. Goths are more tolerated by “True Romans.” The racism of the RME has caused anti-Gothic sentiment in Europe to dwindle.
-Mansa Musa does not make a pilgrimage to Mecca, leading to the heavy spending in Egypt that bankrupted Mali in the OTL. Ghana continues to prosper.

2100-2200 AUC
-Much like in the OTL, the Black Death begins spreading in China, and from there reaches Europe. This massive case of ira deorum leads to widespread religious panic. In an effort to appease the gods, mass sacrifices (and in some cases, suicides!) take place throughout Europe.
-Unable to control the plague-infected Europe along with the Middle East and North Africa, Europe is once again freed from Roman control. At the same time, the Mongols are run out of China. With the Mongolian policy of religious tolerance no longer in place and China’s Roman pagans acting out of control in the aftermath of the Black Death, China returns to being vehemently opposed to Roman paganism.
-This religious tension hurts Roman-Chinese relations. Trade between the two countries begins to dwindle. The two countries also turn inwards in regards to scholarship and culture once again.
-A democratic movement begins in England, with the country’s peasants inspired by the brief return of the Roman Senate.
-China begins expansion of its own. Relations with India are somewhat tense, due to Hinduism’s absorption into the Roman pantheon.
-European Neptune worshippers begin sailing westward, entering Africa. Trade between Europe and Ghana commences. African slavery becomes more commonplace in Europe, while Roman paganism’s popularity in Ghana increases.

2200-2300 AUC
-A Renaissance of classical-styled art and scholarship spreads in the RME, but not Europe, which still remains mostly stagnant. An exception lies in Hispania, which has grown rich off African trade, while simultaneously sharing in Roman knowledge.
-Interested in further expansion, as well as a better trade route with West Africa, China sails eastward, landing in Mexico.
-As news of a new continent spreads to the RME, they fund a voyage of their own, partially motivated by a desire to escape the RME’s increasingly unruly Arab population. The Romans land in “Nova Antiochia.” (Virginia), and quickly form an alliance with the native Powhatan tribe, absorbing Powhatan religion into the Roman pantheon. However, this earns the animosity of Haudenosaunee tribe. Overall, Roman-Native American relations are tense.
-China goes to war with the Aztec Empire for control of Mexico. The Aztecs view the Chinese as ruthless invaders. The Chinese view the Aztecs as barbarians, largely due to their practice of human sacrifice. (The religious fervor of the Aztecs also reminds the Chinese of the Romans!) However, the Chinese’ superior weapons technology, as well as diseases that the Aztecs have no natural immunity to, leads to an easy victory. The Chinese crown their new territory as Moxige.
-With no Hindu-Islamic conflict in India, the guru Nanak does not found Sikhism, but instead becomes a particularly rabid Hindu. Anti-Roman sentiment in India begins.
-Eager to grow as a nation and stake a claim in the New World themselves, Hispania settles in Canada, befriending the Hurons and Algonquins but becoming enemies of the Haudenosaunee, due to their ties to Roman paganism.
-All across the New World, native slavery (but NOT African slavery!) becomes fairly commonplace.
-Hispania and Italy’s frequent trade with the RME leads to the slow return of scholarship to Europe.
-Ghana establishes a colony in Brazil (known as “Wuleeyiroo” in this timeline), growing even wealthier off of their sugarcane plantations.
-Mexican gold leads to economic growth for China, inspiring the Chinese to expand even further into the New World. Chinese begin settling in California (“Kaisatudi”).
-Ghana expands westward, reaching Peru and conquering the Inca. Anti-African sentiment quickly spreads among South American natives.
-RME astronomer Nikolaos Cuprummin begins devising the theory of heliocentricism, while simultaneously drawing the ire of more conservative thinkers, due to its defiance of the works of Aristotle. Cuprummin and his work are quickly shunned by the Romans.
-Roman and Spanish settlers form an alliance due to their common enemy in the Haudenosaunee. Trade between the Romans and Spanish increases, both in the New World and domestically, allowing Hispania to grow even further. Hispania successfully seizes Gallic territory. The Gauls being disrespecting the god Neptune in response.

2300-2400 AUC
-Roman missionaries reach Japan, attempting to conduct trade and gather converts to Roman paganism (as well as a potential ally against the Chinese). Due to Roman paganism’s similarity to the Shinto belief that there exists a myriad of gods in all things, the Japanese quickly warm up to the Romans. This simultaneously hurts Sino-Japanese relations.
-Like in real life, the Western introduction of firearms to Japan leads to the shogunate seizing more power.
-Roman-inspired schools begin being built in Hispania, returning education to Europe after so long.
-Anti-Neptune sentiment spreads in Europe, due to Hispania’s increasing power. Myths are fabricated casting Neptune (and his Norse counterpart Njoror) in a negative light. Blessings once attributed to Neptune (e.g.: a safe voyage at sea) are instead attributed to other gods. The fishing industry begins to decline outside of Hispania.
-European animosity towards the RME grows as well, due to their collaborations with Hispania. Europe begins disavowing the Roman Empire and its religion, claiming their Greco-Roman/Norse hybrid is the true faith. Some Europeans begin empathizing with China, though interaction is limited due to the RME being between them.
-The RME modifies the Julian calendar to account for how it had gone off over time, although the revision is not yet adopted elsewhere.
-A European army storms Antioch, seeing the Roman Empire as offensive to the gods. However, the Romans quickly repel the invasion, with assistance from the Spanish. In response to the attack, the Romans disown the Norse pantheon (with the exception of Njoror, due to their relations with Hispania), forcing its worshippers within the RME to convert. Though victorious, both Spain and the RME are drained financially by the war.
-Despite the war and depression in the Old World, both Rome and China’s American colonies begin to prosper, due to trade of tobacco, gold, and peppers.
-Chinese astronomers, building off the research of Cuprummin, further develop the theory of heliocentricism. Unlike in the RME, still clinging to the geocentric model, China quickly comes to embrace heliocentricism.
-Tension between Rome and China erupts into full-out war. With the assistance of Hispania, Japan, and Ghana, Rome triumphs, but at great cost. The government of the RME is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Rome’s Arabs, having spent centuries frustrated by Roman rule, begin sympathizing with the Chinese. However, they still follow Rome’s gods, leading to China remaining cautious of them.

2400-2500 AUC
-Due to both the difficulty of maintaining such a large empire for so long, coupled with the growing amount of enemies from all sides, the Roman Middle East formally dissolves. Most Romans conduct a mass migration to the American colonies, now both an independent nation and a successor to the original Roman Empire, known as Nova Roma. Much of the RME’s territory is placed under Arabic/Egyptian control. Roman paganism is still observed, though now with heavier Arabian/Egyptian influence. Most of Roman-controlled North Africa is absorbed by Ghana.
-Growing immigration to Nova Roma leads to Native Americans migrating westward. Many natives soon find themselves in Chinese territory. Despite many living as slaves, most natives quickly prefer China over Rome. China expands further eastward in the New World as a result.
-China begins colonization of the Caribbean.
-Inspired by Britain’s democratic movement, their roots in the Roman Republic, and wishing to distance themselves from Imperial China, Nova Roma shifts towards a more republican government. Although Nova Roma retains its Emperor, the Senate’s power gradually increases.
-Having never isolated itself from the rest of the world, Japan quickly begins modernizing, in contrast to China. Numerous Roman-style temples begin being built in Japan.
-Arabs begin conducting trade with Europe, spreading knowledge, technology, and art that was once exclusive to Rome and its allies. Europe begins modernizing as well, finally thrust out of the Dark Ages.
-With Rome no longer near China and India, and India having disowned the Roman Empire long ago, Sino-Indian relations begin improving. Buddhism begins making a small resurgence in India, while a few Chinese convert to Hinduism.
-In addition, China attempts to form better relations with Russia (Roman pagans, and on the border!) Though not as anti-Roman as the rest of Europe, Russia wishes to avoid conflict, promising peace with China. Trade begins commencing between the two countries. China slightly warms up to Roman paganism, though not the Roman Empire.

2500-2600 AUC
-Rome and Hispania expand further out west, dividing the territory amongst themselves. However, settlement of these regions remains sparse at first.
-Japanese missionaries attempt to spread Roman paganism to Korea, only to be rebuffed by Korean traditionalists. Korea begins favoring China over Japan.
-To satisfy the demands of anti-slavery activists, the Roman Senate passes laws concerning the ethical treatment of native slaves, though abolition is not considered. Hispania and Ghana enact similar laws shortly afterwards.
-Japan colonizes Australia.
-The continuous westward/eastward expansion of Rome and China in the New World soon lead to the two nations meeting and sharing a border. Fighting breaks out almost immediately. Eventually the two nations agree to a ceasefire, though relations remain highly tense, especially along the border.
-Nova Roma drafts a new Constitution, explaining the proper workings of their government. In an effort to further distance themselves from the godless Chinese, the Constitution lists piety as a requirement for all Roman citizens, with blasphemy as a criminal offense. Aside from freedom of assembly, right to bear arms, and right to a fair trial, none of the freedoms provided in the real-life American Constitution are granted.
-Arabs invade Ghana due to border disputes, only to be repelled. This raises the concern of Italy, highly dependent on trade with Egypt. To Italy, both Ghana and Arabia are allies, but it will need to start favoring one over the other!
-Italy chooses to ally itself with Ghana, the two countries successfully invading and annexing Arabic territories. Though this hurts Italian-Arabic relations, it strengthens Italy as a state. Like with Hispania before it, the rest of Europe becomes wary of Italy’s growth.
-Most of Europe declares war on Hispania and Italy. Arabia allies with Europe, while Ghana allies with Hispania and Italy. Although Ghana triumphs, it suffers economically in the aftermath of the war, especially with most of Europe and Arabia now unwilling to conduct trade with it. Desperate for the money needed to maintain such a large empire, Ghana begins exporting African slaves to the New World.
-As more evidence comes to light from Chinese astronomers, Nova Roma reluctantly comes to accept the theory of heliocentricism. The myths of Sol Invictus/Apollo is modified accordingly (no longer is the sun said to be carried in a chariot!). Sol Invictus worship increases in Nova Roma as a result.
-As Rome and its allies grow rich through trade with each other, China begins protesting Rome’s rampant materialism (partially motivated by religious differences. China’s Buddhists scorn materialism, while the Romans have a goddess of money!). The Chinese government adopts a more socialist government in response, providing various welfare programs for its population.
-Some of Ghana’s South American colonies, suffering the impact of Ghana’s war with Arabia, declare independence. Wuleeyiroo remains under Ghanaian control.
-China abolishes slavery, an institution still present (though heavily regulated) in Nova Roma.
-Chinese scientists develop the theory of electromagnetism. Inventions such as the telephone, telegraph, phonograph, etc. soon follow. These devices would later reach Nova Roma through Ghanaian trade. The Industrial Revolution begins in China.
-The demand for natural resources native to Africa begins to rise. In spite of its colonial losses, Ghana soon becomes an economic superpower. (Despite Ghana’s Roman alliance, China is now dependent on them!)
-The Roman Senate raises the question over whether Nova Roma is safe with Chinese colonies so close to its borders. After consulting the government augurs, Nova Roma resolves to go to war, appealing to Japan and Hispania for help.
-A triple assault against Moxige commences, Romans invading from the East, Spanish from the North, and Japanese warships from the West. A portion of northern Moxige is annexed by the Romans.
-Furious at the loss of their territory, the Chinese invade Japan with Korean assistance. China’s superior industrialization grants them the advantage. Chinese troops are brutal to conquered cities, with the “Rape of Nagasaki” horrifying Japan and its allies.
-Gaul invades Hispania, conducting a siege of Tarraco. However, Hispania drives back the Gauls with secret Ghanaian assistance.
-Quickly realizing that, even if victorious, a lengthy war would cost China far more than they would gain, surrenders to Nova Roma. The Treaty of Sijilmasa formally ends the World War. The Mexican territory taken by Rome remains under Roman control. Although peace returns, the war carries a severe aftermath on everyone involved. The Chinese populace, carrying a long pride with their heritage, is now furious at their government for giving in. The Romans are now convinced of the supremacy of their country and their gods, believing themselves to be invincible. Anti-Chinese sentiment is now extremely high in Japan. Europe is now hotly divided between “pure” Romans and those that follow the Roman-Norse hybrid gods. Arabian influence in both China’s and Europe’s governments grows.

2600-2700 AUC
-Chinese revolutionary Zheng Mian Fei writes a scathing manifesto against Roman life. The Romans, Zheng argues, have an unhealthy fanaticism for violence, money, and their false gods, and that by ceding to the Romans the current Chinese government is slowly becoming like them. Zheng advocates overthrowing the current Emperor and the creation of a new dynasty that values its own heritage above all others. China soon collapses into civil war between Zheng’s followers and those loyal to the Emperor. The colony of Moxige, having suffered from Rome’s victory most of all, sides with Zheng.
-Ghanaian scientist Kee Kanuntee develops the theory that life evolves over time. This theory produces outrage in the Roman pagan community, particularly in Nova Roma, as it defies the commonly accepted story of man being sculpted by Prometheus and given life by Minerva.
-Following a lengthy coup, Zheng Mian Fei becomes Emperor of China. As Emperor, Zheng advocates isolation from other nations, excluding Korea. (China’s role in trade changes. They sell goods, but never buy!) Zheng glorifies the virtues of tradition, leading to suffering for China’s scholars (new ideas threaten tradition!) and Buddhists (a foreign influence on Chinese culture!).
-Massive riots break out in Roman-controlled Moxige, forcing the Roman military to intervene. Numerous unarmed civilians are massacred in the process, only amplifying the Chinese’s hatred of the Romans.
-With money no longer coming in from China, coupled with China’s repeated insults against Roman religion, Russia attempts to invade China. The Chinese launch a counter-invasion, annexing a small portion of southeastern Russia. Roman temples in the region are destroyed and looted.
-Chinese forces begin occupying Korea, officially as a defense against a potential Japanese invasion. While there, the Chinese government begins praising the superiority of Chinese culture and religion, even above Korea’s own. The practice of Muism is discouraged, due to its pantheon of gods reminding the Chinese of the Romans’ own religion.
-Partially due to the efforts of Japanese missionaries operating in secret, Roman paganism begins spreading in Korea (Sobyeol = Jupiter, Daebyeol = Pluto, etc), largely as an act of defiance against China’s attempts at cultural enforcement.
-The steam-powered train and railroad allow for easy navigation across Nova Roma. However, the railroad does not extend into the Chinese-controlled West Coast due to the continuing political tension. The railroad largely exists as part of the Romans’ ongoing “culture war” with China. Both nations firmly believe theirs is the superior culture, with the other as heretics and barbarians. Both Roman paganism and traditional Chinese religion fuel the fire!
-Despite its initial difficulty spreading, Kanuntee’s theory of evolution inspires many with the idea that man was not created by gods. Although the spread of atheism is tolerated in China (traditional religion being atheistic anyway) and Ghana (having become increasingly secularized due to its focus on trade, though most of the population remains religious), the idea horrifies the Romans. The Senate passes tighter laws concerning blasphemy, making it a criminal offense to deny the existence of the Roman pantheon.
-Discovery of diamonds in South Africa leads to Ghana establishing a mine in the area. Despite Ghana’s long and prosperous history, the rest of Africa continues to be in poor condition, resenting the Ghanaians. Their participation in the slave trade doesn’t help!
-Europe’s “pure” Romans, wishing to revive the culture that made the Roman Empire great, begin founding schools to produce a new generation of intellectual Europeans. These schools teach of the Norse gods as outright fictitious, angering their followers.
-War breaks out in Europe between followers of the Roman and Norse pantheons, each side going as far as to deny the existence of the others’ gods. In Europe, the Roman and Norse pantheons are no longer seen as one and the same, though this view persists in Nova Roma and other regions. (Nova Roma has long since forgotten their own anti-Norse sentiment, though Norse worshippers are still required to admit to the superiority of Rome’s gods.)
-The discovery of coal reserves in Nigeria leads to Ghana cutting off trade with China. (Ghana is no longer dependent on China for coal, money comes into China but never comes out, and China’s anti-religious policies don’t sit well with Rome’s allies.) Chinese-Ghanaian relations suffer massive damage as a result.
-In an effort to establish themselves as a nation of piety, Nova Roma introduces the Pledge of Allegiance. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the Senate and People of Nova Roma, and to the Empire for which it stands, one nation, under Jupiter, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all citizens.”
-Korea, with Japanese backing, rebels against Chinese military forces occupying the country. Although the rebellion is put down, tensions along the Chinese-Korean border increase. Both countries begin placing guards along their side of the border.
-Moxige declares independence from China, unhappy with being continually ignored by China’s new introverted government. Roman paganism slowly takes hold in Moxige, with an added Aztec influence. (The Mexicans have returned to their religious roots in order to defy their former Chinese rulers! Obviously, human sacrifice is out.)
-Nova Roma grants suffrage to women.
-With Moxige now on good terms with Nova Roma, along with the recent invention of the airplane, Roman-Japanese interactions and trade become more commonplace. Nova Roma’s influence is now growing, while China’s is weakening!
-Due to both Spanish and Italian support, the “pure Romans” of Europe triumph over the Norse worshippers, who are largely exiled back to Scandinavia, Britain, and the Balkans. The few Norse followers who remain in their home country are treated as second-class citizens due to their heresy. Europe begins looking upon Britain with contempt due to their tolerance of Norse worshippers.
-Trade with Ghana leads to a more secularized Arabia. In Africa and the Middle East, the gods have been reduced to little more than figureheads, though they’re still worshipped officially.
-An economic depression induced by heavy postwar spending leads to Western power weakening.
-China begins involving itself in foreign affairs again. Realizing not all Roman pagans are the same, efforts are made to encourage further rebellion among the Norse worshippers. Russia, trying to avoid conflict with the border country that seized so much land from them in the past, goes along with this idea as well.
-A socialist movement begins rising up in Eastern Europe and Britain, encouraging the destruction of the long-running oppression of the Roman Empire. With Chinese backing, the Norsemen are able to take control of most of Europe. Nova Roma, Hispania, Ghana, and Japan form an alliance in response.

2700-2766 AUC
-Japanese physicists under Roman employ develop the first atom bomb, dropping it on the Chinese city of Nanking. China surrenders, cementing Nova Roma’s status as a nigh-invincible superpower. Portions of Eastern China are ceded to Japan. Europe’s governments collectively exile all Norsemen to Russia, far away from mainland Europe.
-Hispania annexes Britain.
-Imperial power in China collapses. A Communist government appears in its place, turning inward to focus on the needs of the people as much as possible. “The Romans will pay for their crimes, but not by war. Rome will suffer by its own hands, consumed by their gods and their love of power and money.”
-Nova Roma’s triumph in the war produces a general feeling of euphoria among the populace, as well as its allies. More advances in culture and science begin to occur. However, these advances are not as present in Nova Roma as they are in Japan or Ghana. Rome’s blasphemy laws and refusal to acknowledge evolution restrict the thinking ability of its populace.
-Arabia and India grow stronger, due to trade with each other and Ghana. Although Arabia has become more secular over time, India remains devoutly Hindu, these views strengthened by the leadership of Hindu extremist Mohandas Gandhi.
-An abolitionist movement begins rising in Nova Roma, calling for the banning of slavery. However, these new abolitionists are vastly outnumbered by religious traditionalists.
-The Roman Senate vetoes a proposal for the abolition of slavery, but passes stricter slave reform laws in its place. Any slave, should they so wish, is allowed to petition their master for freedom. However, as most slaves lack the skills to work elsewhere, few are freed by this new law.
-South African natives rebel against their mistreatment at the hands of Ghanaian colonists. Ghana’s military is sent to intervene, resulting in the largest civilian massacre in years. Ghana is now a ruthless, warlike state, valuing money above all else.
-After careful review of the written myth, the Roman Senate declares that the theory of evolution does not violate the state’s blasphemy laws. (Epimetheus gave gifts to all the animals, and evolution was the means by which he gave them!) Although accepting evolution is no longer a criminal offense, few Romans still do so, with the majority of the populace still treating it as blasphemous.
-Russia and Japan form an alliance in the event of a potential Chinese attack. Through this alliance, Norse paganism reaches Japan for the first time, added into the already bizarre mixture of Roman paganism, Shintoism, and Buddhism!
-Extensive oil trade throughout the world leads to Arabia evolving into a great empire in its own right.
-The invention of the birth control pill leads to increased sexual activity in Nova Roma. The cults of Venus and Cupid begin growing in popularity. The ancient Greek custom of having sex with priestesses during the festival of Aphrodisia is revived for Veneralia.
-As Ghana’s economy declines and Arabia’s grows, Ghana declares war on Arabia, hoping to seize its oil fields for itself. The bulk of the fighting occurs in Egypt and Palestine.
-Nova Roma, dependent on oil for their growth as a nation, backs Arabia in the war with Ghana, damaging their good longtime relations with Ghana.
-Arabia defeats Ghana, cementing its status as a major power. Ghana has suffered economically ever since (though it still remains better off than any real-life African nation). Roman leaders begin maintaining a close relationship with the Arabs in hopes of being able to share in their oil trade.
-Roman interference leads to a puppet government being installed in Arabia in the aftermath of the war against Ghana. The Arabian oil industry is now under Roman control.
-The Chinese government criticizes Nova Roma’s transparent attempts to control independent nations. “The old Rome took control with violence and conquest. The new Rome does so in a way less obvious, but every bit as troubling.”
-For the first time in history, the Roman Emperor visits China, hoping to amend the long-troubled relationship between the two countries. Although this meeting leads to Roman-Chinese relations beginning to thaw, Mao Zedong still remains wary of potential Roman attempts to control their government.
-With little political conflict in the region, Europe begins turning inward to culture and science. Hispanic researchers develop the Internet.
-Roman and Hispanic engineers work together to launch the first artificial satellite into space. China and Ghana become alarmed at this rapid Roman advancement.
-A growing counter-culture movement begins in Nova Roma, protesting the archaic nature of the Roman government. A few of these youths even go as far as to proclaim atheism, only to be arrested for it. Most identify with the mystery cult of Isis, allowing them to deny the Roman pantheon while staying within Nova Roma’s blasphemy laws. Isis’ Egyptian origin also shows their sympathy to the Arabian people, victims of Roman imperialism. This counter-culture movement takes to calling themselves “the Sons of Horus.”
-Increased demonstration of the Sons of Horus leads to the Roman Senate conducting an investigation of all mystery cults in the country. An extensive database is soon created of every god and cult in Nova Roma, both state-approved and unofficial. A law is soon passed permitting the Roman government to prohibit the practice of any unapproved cults that they deem to threaten the pax deorum.
-Efforts begin being made to encourage the Roman populace to follow proper, state-approved religions in favor of unlicensed ones, mirroring the Purge of Maxentius in the past. A new age of piety begins.
-The Roman government implements a process by which unlicensed cults, once proving they’re benevolent and without treacherous intent, can be granted official state recognition. The Church of Prometheus is among the first to do so.
-Arabia’s current leader attempts to nationalize their oil industry, freeing themselves of Roman influence, only to be secretly assassinated by the Roman government. Riots break out in Arabia soon afterwards, forcing Nova Roma to dispatch soldiers to the region.
-The journalist Diagoras Cinna begins his journey of chronicling the impact religion has had on Roman life.
 
I seriously doubt any compromise between licinius and maximinus can be maintained for long. One of them was going to take out the other at some point and in the unlikely event that it does last through their lifetimes, it would certainly dissipate on one of their deaths.
 
I seriously doubt any compromise between licinius and maximinus can be maintained for long. One of them was going to take out the other at some point and in the unlikely event that it does last through their lifetimes, it would certainly dissipate on one of their deaths.

Yeah, I admit I needed to do a lot of steering at the start, which I feel kind of bad about.

My idea was that Maxentius utilized diplomacy and convinced the other two Emperors to put their personal differences aside for the good of the Empire, specifically in ridding it of Christianity.

Just to clear this up: I'm aware that in the OTL Maxentius was fairly tolerant of Christianity, though I imagine he'd change his views after seeing Constantine's shields. As for Licinius, the persecution of Christians near the end of his reign gives me the impression he only agreed to the Edict of Milan in the first place to save political face.
 

katchen

Banned
You might want to do a bit more research into the way Greco-Roman religion was itself evolving in late Antiquity, specifically Neo-Platonism and the Mysteries. The Neo-Platonists were more than just a philosophical school and the Mysteries more than cults. They explained Greco-Roman religion to the average man where the rubber met the road, specifically, the question of life after death.
By Middle to Late Antiquity, Plato's "Myth of Er" coming out of the Orphic Mysteries is becoming the predominant explanation for what happens after people die. The whole mythos of Erebrus and the Three Judges whose names the deceased must remember when going into judgement, and drinking from the spring of Lethe before being reincarnated. Above all, being reincarnated.
The growing prevalence of the belief in reincarnation is important because this belief makes Greco-Roman religion compatible with Buddhism, which is spreading rapidly west from Gandhara (present day Afghanistan). Buddhism does not conflict or compete with any form of paganism. Buddhism complements polytheistic religious systems, giving them a higher degree of coherence. The Gods exist and what is important is the search for Enlightenment.
This is why in Japan, China and Southeast Asia and Tibet we see Buddhism practiced ALONGSIDE Shinto, the Chinese gods, Southeast Asian deities and the Tibetan Bon-Pa faith. It is only the monothestic daughter religions of Judaism (Christianity and Islam) which emphasize a. A personal relationship with the one existing deity, b. a moral code promulgated by that deity and a state system that is based on that moral code and enforces both that moral code and belief in the one deity and c. one incarnation and thus one chance at a good life followed by judgement and eternal reward or eternal punishment, that Buddhism is incompatible with. (And Buddhism's mother religion, Hunduvta, with which it has other issue).
So the result of the triumph of Roman Paganism is likely in the long run to mean the triumph of Neoplatonism which evolves into and becomes explained as a form of Mahayana Buddhism as soon as Buddhist missionaries reach the Roman Empire in large numbers. The Romans can become conservative and defensive against Buddhism for a time, but in the long run, why should they be more defensive and feel any more threatened by Buddhism than Taoist Chinese or Shinto Japanese? Why shouldn't, for example, the Vestal Virgins become an order of Buddhist nuns, combining their rites with yogic meditation?
And ironically, America is likely to be discovered by the Romans a lot sooner if Pure Land Buddhism becomes prevalent in the Empire, setting Romans voyaging across the Atlantic in search of the Amida Pure Land.:)
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You might want to do a bit more research into the way Greco-Roman religion was itself evolving in late Antiquity, specifically Neo-Platonism and the Mysteries. The Neo-Platonists were more than just a philosophical school and the Mysteries more than cults. They explained Greco-Roman religion to the average man where the rubber met the road, specifically, the question of life after death.
By Middle to Late Antiquity, Plato's "Myth of Er" coming out of the Orphic Mysteries is becoming the predominant explanation for what happens after people die. The whole mythos of Erebrus and the Three Judges whose names the deceased must remember when going into judgement, and drinking from the spring of Lethe before being reincarnated. Above all, being reincarnated.
The growing prevalence of the belief in reincarnation is important because this belief makes Greco-Roman religion compatible with Buddhism, which is spreading rapidly west from Gandhara (present day Afghanistan). Buddhism does not conflict or compete with any form of paganism. Buddhism complements polytheistic religious systems, giving them a higher degree of coherence. The Gods exist and what is important is the search for Enlightenment.
This is why in Japan, China and Southeast Asia and Tibet we see Buddhism practiced ALONGSIDE Shinto, the Chinese gods, Southeast Asian deities and the Tibetan Bon-Pa faith. It is only the monothestic daughter religions of Judaism (Christianity and Islam) which emphasize a. A personal relationship with the one existing deity, b. a moral code promulgated by that deity and a state system that is based on that moral code and enforces both that moral code and belief in the one deity and c. one incarnation and thus one chance at a good life followed by judgement and eternal reward or eternal punishment, that Buddhism is incompatible with. (And Buddhism's mother religion, Hunduvta, with which it has other issue).
So the result of the triumph of Roman Paganism is likely in the long run to mean the triumph of Neoplatonism which evolves into and becomes explained as a form of Mahayana Buddhism as soon as Buddhist missionaries reach the Roman Empire in large numbers. The Romans can become conservative and defensive against Buddhism for a time, but in the long run, why should they be more defensive and feel any more threatened by Buddhism than Taoist Chinese or Shinto Japanese? Why shouldn't, for example, the Vestal Virgins become an order of Buddhist nuns, combining their rites with yogic meditation?
And ironically, America is likely to be discovered by the Romans a lot sooner if Pure Land Buddhism becomes prevalent in the Empire, setting Romans voyaging across the Atlantic in search of the Amida Pure Land.:)

Thanks for the tip. I was thinking too much about the fact that Buddhism is atheistic on its own to take into account how it can be compatible with other faiths. I'll revise things so the Romans aren't as anti-Buddhist as I first thought.

I appreciate the help. I'm a little new to this whole AH thing.
 
Interesting timeline; However, I have a hard time believing that Shapur II would just surrender to the Romans and except paganism. Shapur was a great leader and general, with a powerful army, an army that could more than rival anything the Romans could put out at this time; he whipped the Romans a fair bit IOTL, and I can't see Rome doing any better ITTL. More importantly, since Shapur II IOTL, and now the Romans ITTL want to occupy Armenia, why not just split it? Diplomacy between the two empires was quite amicable (although not always), and besides, the Romans occupied Mesopotamia before, under Trajan, and Hadrian wisely pulled out when it became clear that the local population didn't exactly like the Romans! More importantly, any war against the Sassanids will need major troop numbers and supplies, throw in administrative personnel and occupation troops..., given that the roman empire at this point has seen better days, it would do them well to focus their armies where their needed: The Rhine and Danube Frontiers.

I say, have them split Armenia, beyond this everything goes as IOTL, Mohammed's followers and the Gokturks bring the fall of Sassanid Persia, thus setting the stage for bloody combat in the east between the Muslims and the Pagan Romans.

P.S. My argument has nothing to do with my username!:D

Besides that, great timeline! keep up the good work!
 
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Christians convert, die, or flee to Persia.
Seriously? I call that wishful thinking.

After all, I guess you overestimate the role of christianity as just one factor in the complex decline of the roman empire and vice versa you strongly underestimate the power of the doctrine of salvation these days. If it ever could happen, that the roman government marginalizes christianity, other monotheistic religions would most probbaly take over this role.

I see a lot of stuff in the roman era, which is highly unlikely, e.g integration of the Goths and conquering Mesopotamia. Btw, conquering Mesopotamia means nothing. But luckily the Huns did the rest and stopped there. And suddenly Zoroastrianism disapeared. Seriously?

I would need much more explanation, facts and details, before I believe, that history could ever go this route. For example. in order to avoid the growth of doctrine of salvage, you need to fundamentally change the society of the late roman empire and the structure of its government. Because this was perhaps the main reason for the success of those doctrines. I have no clue, how to change this society and structure fast enough in the 4th century. If you want to avoid christianity, start earlier, much earlier, and establish a different roman society, which has no need for salvation after death. Btw, Jesus dead or alive doesn't really matter, e.g. Herodes kills young Jesus butterflies nothing important imho.

Honestly, nearly every single line of your post above is enough content for a 500 page novel. Why don't you focus on one thing and do it right, instead of presenting 2000 years of history?
 
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Thanks a bunch for the criticism, guys. I wasn't aware of how many holes my timeline had. A little disheartening, but it's good to know so I can take them into account.

Regarding the doctrine of salvation: I imagined that the Greco-Roman afterlife would be played up later on to something closer to the Christian afterlife, since both are divided into an area for rewarding the good (Elysium/Heaven), punishing the evil (Tartarus/Hell), and a more neutral area for the unremarkable (Asphodel/Purgatory). I was also picturing Prometheus being warped into a more Christ-like figure, since he performed a good deed for mankind and received a horrific punishment for it. While I'm aware Christianity was just one of many monotheistic cults at the time, I assumed Mithra/Sol Invictus/Isis could be absorbed into the traditional religion without relatively little issue, unlike Christianity.

I suppose I need to do a lot of rethinking, though. Big thanks again for the feedback. Hopefully I can get everything right with this novel.
 
The main objection I see from the religious point of view is this: even if Christianism would have been butterflied away, Romans would have adopted any of the thousand Eastern cults existing at that time.
Roman society at the end of the classical era was very different from the original, and the search of new spiritual cults was simply blatant, so it's quite difficult to explain how the old pagan cult could survive any longer.
The only reason that could have justified a longer existence (but not to modern times in any case) is an earlier fall of the empire that would isolate large rural communities from any urban influence and interrupting interregional trade earlier than it happened OTL.
 
Roman religion was never a missionary religion, there's no reason for it to spread, especially aggressively.

It'd be more likely to see Rome convert to Zoroastrianism before they remain pagan.
 
Roman religion was never a missionary religion, there's no reason for it to spread, especially aggressively.

It'd be more likely to see Rome convert to Zoroastrianism before they remain pagan.


And anyway there'd still be plenty of Christianity around. It had been growing for 300 years before Constantine, and will presumably continue to do so even without him. And of course it only has another century or so before the Western Empire folds and what Roman Emperors think about religion (or anything else) ceases to matter in the West.

Manichaeism will also be around. Even OTL it survived far into the Middle Ages despite getting no governmental patronage anywhere in Europe, and usually being persecuted.
 
While I'm aware Christianity was just one of many monotheistic cults at the time, I assumed Mithra/Sol Invictus/Isis could be absorbed into the traditional religion without relatively little issue, unlike Christianity.

The romans were world champion in integration. They had no issue to integrate other gods into their pantheon. Sol Invictus and Isis are Henotehism. That means, the worshippers believed that this god is the only god worth to adore. But they accepted the existence of other (minor) gods. That makes a common pantheon much easier. The romans tried sometimes to integrate christus into their pantheon, but the christians refused to accept this.

I guess this battle is a theological one. You can't win it by persecution of christians. The pagan religions have to change, takeover ideas from christianity (e.g. salavation, open to everyone, clear message/not mystic, ...) and therefore compete with christianity succesfully. Actually some of them did change and compete, but they lost finally.

However I could imagine a couple of good henotheistic religions competing with christianity succesfully, which could lead to a more polytheistic world.
 
It had been growing for 300 years before Constantine, and will presumably continue to do so even without him.

Sure it will continue to grow, but not that fast. If any other later roman emperor supports christianity or becomes a christian himself, christianity will start its triumph again. Could be already Constantins sons. Wasn't their mother a christian?

The problem is: late roman centralism meets monotheism! This is a very dangerous mix which leads very fast to an absolutistic situation with a monotheistic state-religion. Christianity changed the roman empire and vice versa the empire changed christianity dramatically.

A republican roman empire would perhaps be able to deal with christianity much better. Actually the west-roman senate was pretty resistant to christianity. I doubt, a guy like Theodosius, could start a crusade in a republican environment. With just one single point of attack, it was rather easy for christianity to takeover the empire and grow dramatically. But such a republican timeline has to start much earlier.
A similar situation could appear, if the roman empire breaks to several kingdoms in the 3rd century.
 
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After all, I guess you overestimate the role of christianity as just one factor in the complex decline of the roman empire and vice versa you strongly underestimate the power of the doctrine of salvation these days. If it ever could happen, that the roman government marginalizes christianity, other monotheistic religions would most probbaly take over this role.
Did not christianity rather have to evolve into a polytheistic religion in order to become dominant and all-encompassing, absorbing traits of many other cults?
 
Did not christianity rather have to evolve into a polytheistic religion in order to become dominant and all-encompassing, absorbing traits of many other cults?

It was the strength of the monotheistic religions to have a clear message to the people and a strong orientation with just one god. And of course the hope for salvation in a better world after death. Because in this autocratic chaos and increasing suppression of these days, there was no hope for a lot of people. So I doubt, they could give up or change the core of their religion.

Actually christianity absorbed not just the roman way of centralism and absolutism, they also took over ideas and traditions from other religions, e.g. December 25th which was a day of celebration of Sol Invictus, Aurelianus introduced originally. Also there was a huge theological discussion, if God and Jesus are one or two persons. And christians knew angels and other semi-god-like entities.

Perhaps there was a chance, that Chritianity integrates all these other gods and become a kind of henotheistic religion. Perhaps arianism and gnosticism are a starting point. But honestly, thats a theological issue. And my knowledge about early christian theology is not that deep, that I could say, if this is possible at all. However, from Jesus to Theodosius there was a lot of change in christianity, as in the roman state.

My idea is more the other way around. First change Rome and start very early. In a less autocratic world, with a less divided society you will perhaps get a different christianity, too.
 
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