Jesus of Nazareth, a teacher and healer from a provincial backwater of the Roman empire, is one of the most complex, charismatic and influential figures in history. The emperors of Rome first persecuted his adherents, then came to adopt his teachings; and today, some 2,000 years after its establishment, Christianity has more followers than any other religion. Concentrating on Jesus' life, on his social and political context, on his message and beliefs, and on the various perceptions of him by his contemporaries and by subsequent generations right up to the present day, "Jesus Christ" is the only comprehensive, authoritative and fully illustrated account of this great man. With deft and profound scholarship, Professor Roy Porter paints a detailed background portrait of all aspects of society in 1st-century Palestine and looks squarely at the biblical and other evidence in order to disentangle many of the mysteries and confusions surrounding the stages of life of the historical Jesus. Beautifully illustrated with nearly 200 full-colour images, Professor Porter's engaging narrative is complemented by "boxed" features on major topics and sidebar mini-essays on essential background - including Jesus' relationship to the Judaism of his day, the role of women in his life and career, his view of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Christian Old Testament), the political issues surrounding his trial, and his significance for early Christian groups such as the Gnostics.