<p>Edward Gibbon's <em>Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire</em> advances five causes for the early Christians' triumph over their pagan and Hebrew rivals.  This podcast discusses them.</p>

II.4 Gibbon on the Destruction of Paganism

Get Ready for Rome helps the thoughtful traveler prepare to visit the Eternal City by introducing the city’s main monuments and the sometimes acrimonious dialogue they imply. Add value to your visit to Rome by getting to know in advance the ideas and history that stand behind St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel and other familiar but put poorly understood sites of one of the world’s greatest cities.