Christianity’s political ascent
Alice Roberts’ history of the late Roman empire dispels the notion of a faith for the poor and oppressed –…
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Pope Francis’s illusions
The controversial liberaliser brought humanity to the Vatican – but he was unable to arrest the Catholic Church’s decline.
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How often do you think about the Dark Ages?
The period may have as much contemporary resonance as Ancient Rome.
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Why we’re stuck in ancient Rome
The enduring resonance of the Roman empire is often remarked upon – but rarely understood.
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Conclave: this papal power struggle is high entertainment
Ralph Fiennes gives an all-time best performance in this sumptuous, thrilling drama about appointing a new pope.
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Gladiator II is a triumph
In this sequel, chock-full of fighting, Ridley Scott lets his appetite for elaborate action scenes run wild.
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Megalopolis’s bad history
The Roman Republic is a lazy analogy for the modern political condition.
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The real reason men think about the Roman Empire
It’s not (just) a patriarchal power fantasy.
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Why Rome had no culture wars
The clash between Caesar and Cato offers lessons for today, but also reveals the gulf between modern and classical thought.
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Why Britain’s decline resembles the fall of Rome
Under craven, venal, populist leaders, countries can lose their way frighteningly fast. Just ask the Romans.
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From the NS archive: Music in Rome in 1828
17 November 1923: Can there really be music outside Italy?
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Boris Johnson’s claim that the Roman empire fell due to “uncontrolled immigration” is wrong – and dangerous
The PM is selling a version of history that doesn’t exist, a world where the West equals good and immigrants…
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High hopes meet harsh realities at the G20 in Rome
Key leaders stayed away and firm commitments on climate change were thin on the ground at this weekend's summit, ahead…
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