An alternate history Colosseum

Continuing this month's theme of alternate histories, here's the most straightforward alt-history passage in my novel, Parallel U. - Freshman Year. My group of parallel-hopping students travels to Parallel 24, in which the Roman Empire never fell, and visits the Colosseum—which in this world has been used continually since antiquity. Here's the history of the building, as related by a hologram of the current Roman ruler, played while the characters are riding an escalator to their seats. (Bonus points if you can spot the point of divergence from our history to alt-history.)

“Consul-Elect Philippa Daciana welcomes you to the Flavian Amphitheatre, so named because of its initial construction almost twenty-one hundred years ago during the reigns of the Flavian emperors, Vespasian the First and Titus. Originally built of concrete and stone, the Amphitheatre was partially destroyed by earthquake nine hundred years later and was subsequently rebuilt according to its original specifications during the Clovian dynasty, by the Emperor Linus and his daughter, the Regent Jocasta. It again fell to ruin during the Mongol Occupation, after which its reconstruction, this time in iron and steel, became a catalyst for the Classical Revival. Its most recent reconstruction, two decades ago by the architect Paolo Gambini, incorporates the latest innovations in synthetics and cybernetics, and is dedicated to the initiation of the Third Republic, which began that same year. Improvements and upgrades continue on a regular basis for the enjoyment and edification of citizens and visitors from across the empire and beyond. Throughout the centuries the Amphitheatre has remained an indomitable symbol of the glory and greatness of both our city and our empire, and we are proud that you’ve chosen to visit it. Enjoy today’s show, as many millions have done before you!” 

To share the experience along with my characters (which isn't what you'd think; the games involve exoskeletons, and the fast food is Chinese), order or download Parallel U. 

BTW: Paolo Gambini is also an architect in our own world. I hope he someday gets a commission on this scale.

Also BTW: That point of divergence? It comes after the first sentence. (Actually it creeps in a little earlier; in our reality, there was no Vespasian the Second, so the emperor who bears that name is known to us simply as...Vespasian.)