Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World

Tom Holland argues that the modern Western moral framework is almost entirely an inheritance of Christianity. He traces the evolution of European thought from the Roman perspective, which valued strength and social hierarchy, to a revolutionary system that prioritizes the weak and asserts the equal worth of every human soul. The narrative maps this transformation through historical turning points including the abolition of slavery, the rise of secularism, and the development of human rights law. Holland demonstrates that even anti-religious movements like the Enlightenment and contemporary social justice activism rely on distinctively Christian assumptions about victimhood and universal dignity.

Students of history and secular readers will find an explanation for why they hold specific ethical convictions that feel intuitive but are actually culturally contingent. The text provides a genealogy of the Western mind, showing how Christian theology remains the foundation for modern liberalism. Readers finish the book understanding that their concepts of progress and compassion are legacies of a specific religious revolution rather than self-evident truths of nature.