Others Magazine

Book Review: Ghost Empire by Richard Fidler

11 February 2023

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In Ghost Empire, radio presenter and writer Richard Fidler shares the tumultuous history of the city of Constantinople. Ruled by Emperor Constantine, who made Christianity the ‘state religion’, it reveals the ideological development of the modern church and western society.

Reviewed by Phil Inglis

Richard Fidler is one of my favourite podcast hosts, and ancient history is one of my favourite topics of study. Consequently, when Richard Fidler wrote a book about the ancient city of Constantinople, I was super keen to read it.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t until this last holiday that I finally made the time to sit down and read Fidler’s much acclaimed book. It was fabulous. The descriptions and stories Richard relates bring to life the world in which the Christian Church exploded into prominence.  

When Constantine became Roman emperor, he made Christianity the ‘state religion’ of Rome and moved the capital of the Roman Empire east from Rome to the city of Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople. The history of the Church and its ideological development was shaped by the politics of the empire and its capital city.

Fidler’s easy-to-read book brings much of this to life. The book may not be rigorous enough to be considered an ancient history textbook, but it is approachable enough for anyone to read. Ghost Empire really gives you a feel for what life was like in the days of the mighty Roman Empire.

Richard Fidler’s recent book, The Book of Roads and Kingdoms, centring on the city of Baghdad, is also high on my reading list.

Available at bookstores and online.

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• Tags: 

• churchhistory,
• constantinople,
• ghostempire,
• PhilInglis,
• richardfidler

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