Roma Eterna
Roma Eterna is a
2003 novel by
Robert Silverberg that could be classified as
alternate history; in this case, the failure of the
Israelite Exodus from
Egypt. Over the course of its history, the
Roman Empire conquers the world. The novel itself is presented as a series of vignettes taken over more than 2,000 years, coming up to our calendar date of AD
1969 (which is the novel is presented as A.U.C. (from the founding of [Rome]) 2723. A group of
Hebrew citizens in
Alexandria prepare to depart Earth in a rocket, which explodes shortly after takeoff. But they will try again, still believing
God chose them to inherit the Promised Land, just not on Rome-ruled Earth.